The Amsterdam ArenA is a football stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in Amsterdam Zuidoost, near the Bijlmermeer quarter. Initially, it was planned as the centrepiece of Amsterdam's bid for the 1992 Olympic Games. Amsterdam lost the bid to Barcelona, and the plans for the stadium were altered to involve a general sports arena in the Amsterdam area. Today, the stadium is home to football club Ajax, and NFL Europe franchise Amsterdam Admirals.

The stadium, which opened in 1996, is one of the first in the world to combine a retractable roof and a grass surface. This caused some problems in the beginning, because the grass rolls wouldn't grow and had to be replaced monthly. Its all-seated capacity is 51,859. The estimated cost to build the stadium is around 212 million Dutch guilders, or € 96 million. The inaugural match was between the home team Ajax Amsterdam and AC Milan.

Concerts have been held here as well, by stars such as Tina Turner, Robbie Williams and Madonna

(Source: Wikipedia)

Send by: Gh0st