GSP Stadium

Gymnastic Club "The Pancyprians" Stadium (GSP Stadium) (Greek: Στάδιο Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος "Τα Παγκύπρια") is a football stadium in Strovolos, Nicosia District, Cyprus. Although small by international standards, it is the largest stadium in Cyprus, with a capacity of 22,859 and was opened in 1999. It serves as the home stadium for the two Nicosia's biggest clubs APOEL and Omonia. It is also the home stadium of the Cyprus national football team. A stadium under the same name, the old GSP Stadium, existed from 1902 until 1999 in the centre of Nicosia and had a capacity of 12,000.

This article is about the new stadium which opened in 1999. For the original stadium which it replaced, see GSP Stadium (1902).
Στάδιο ΓΣΠ/ GSP Stadium
New GSP Stadium
Full nameΣτάδιο Γυμναστικού Συλλόγου "Τα Παγκύπρια"/Gymnastic Club The Pancyprians Stadium
LocationStrovolos, Nicosia District, Cyprus
Coordinates35°6′52.3″N 33°21′46.2″E
OwnerPancyprian Gymnastic Association (GSP)
OperatorGSP
Executive suites31
Capacity22,859[1]
Record attendance23,043
APOEL Nicosia vs Omonia Nicosia
(7 December 2002 – Cypriot First Division)
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
SurfaceNatural Grass
Construction
Broke ground1995
Built1995–1998
Opened6 October 1999 (1999-10-06)
ArchitectTDA Architects
Project managerKAL Engineering
Structural engineerKAL Engineering Ltd
General contractorGroup APC Plc[2]
Tenants
APOEL Nicosia FC (1999–present)
AC Omonia Nicosia (1999–present)
Olympiakos Nicosia (1999–2008), (2009–2013)
Cyprus national football team (2000–present)
Website
www.gsp.org.cy
GSP modern exterior design

History
Uefa Champions League (APOEL vs Real Madrid) in GSP

Designed by Theo. David Architects, the new GSP Stadium opened for use on 6 October 1999. The complex has three arenas: a football stadium, an athletics stadium and an auxiliary football pitch intended for training. The stadium is owned by the Pancyprian Gymnastic Association. With an official seating capacity of 22,859 the new GSP is the largest football venue in Cyprus. It is located at the entrance to Nicosia (as approached from the A1 highway) and was inaugurated in 1999 by the then-President Glafcos Clerides and Archbishop Chrysostomos I. The first game was held on 6 October 1999 and there was a friendly match between APOEL and Omonia, which ended 3–3.

Since then, the stadium is not only the home of Nicosian teams but usually of Cyprus national football team. During the World Cup 2006 qualifying round it was used as home for all matches of Cyprus. The stadium is the only one in Cyprus which satisfies UEFA Criteria. For this reason since 2004 it is used as home for all the teams of Cyprus in European Cups. Annually, the stadium hosts the Cypriot Super Cup. Also until 2005, it was hosting annually the Cypriot Cup final.

In 2002, the stadium was home for Israeli clubs for the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League matches. It hosted the UEFA Cup quarter final (as home for Hapoel Tel Aviv) between Hapoel Tel Aviv and A.C. Milan. It was also used by Maccabi Haifa for home stadium for the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League group stage matches and for the UEFA Cup matches. Some matches were attractive for Cypriots like the matches Maccabi Haifa-Olympiacos CFP and Maccabi Haifa-Manchester United, since those two Maccabi's rivals are very popular in Cyprus.

It's the only stadium in Cyprus build only for track & field games. In addition with the hotel, it provides a full training centre solution for athletes all over the world. During the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, many athletes from different countries used the stadium for training. In 2001, Bruno Zauli took place here with great success.

The GSP Stadium hosted all home matches of Anorthosis Famagusta's 2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage campaign and all APOEL's 2009–10 UEFA Champions League group stage home matches. Two years later, it hosted all APOEL's home matches in the club's surprising run to the quarter-finals of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League. Also, it hosted again all APOEL's home matches in their third participation in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stages. All matches were sold out by APOEL's fans.

GSP Stadium also hosted AEK Larnaca's 2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage matches, AEL Limassol's 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage matches, APOEL's and Apollon Limassol's 2013–14 UEFA Europa League group stage matches, Apollon's 2014–15 UEFA Europa League group stage matches and APOEL's 2015–16 group stage matches. GSP Stadium also hosted all APOEL's home matches in the club's impressive run to the last 16 of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.

Due to riots in Kiev and after UEFA's decision, GSP Stadium hosted the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League round of 32 match between Dynamo Kyiv and Valencia CF on 20 February 2014, which ended in 0–2 Valencia win.[3]

In the 2016–17 domestic league season, tenants APOEL drew the highest average home attendance (7,126).[4]

Concerts

Average attendances

The all-time attendance record for the football stadium is 23,043 tickets in the match between APOEL and Omonia for the 2002–03 Cypriot First Division.[6] The match was held on 7 December 2002 and ended in a goalless draw.

The record of the highest attendance for a European Competition game is 22,701[7] tickets in the match between APOEL and Olympique Lyonnais for the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League last-16. The match was held on 7 March 2012 and ended with a 1–0 win for APOEL after extra time and 4–3 win on penalties.

Season APOEL Olympiakos Omonia
2015–16[8]7,362Makario Stadium6,002
2014–15[9]6,890Makario Stadium7,414
2013–147,108Makario Stadium6,332
2012–139,5829837,807
2011–128,2481,5068,176
2010–119,4181,5877,799
2009–107,582461 (2nd Div.)9,070
2008–097,670Makario Stadium9,295
2007–087,2391,6925,967
2006–078,9321,5636,678
2005–067,4601,7038,557
2004–057,7141,9816,535
2003–048,3871,91111,003
2002–038,2052,76110,877
2001–027,6041,9597,825
2000–013,8932,2018,620
1999–003,7181,5054,693

Source: European Football Statistics

Attributes
StandCapacityEntrance Gates
West Stand7,8186
East Stand4,9394
North Stand4,7494
South Stand4,9534
VIP Boxes4001
Total22,85919

GSP Athletic Centre includes

GSP Football Stadium

  • Weight Lifting Room
  • Lockers (Fully Equipped)
  • Doping Control Room
  • Referees Lockers
  • Delegate Room
  • Indoor Warm Up Area
  • Conference Rooms
  • Secretarial facilities
  • Restaurant
  • Cafeteria
  • Storage rooms
  • Press room
  • First Aid room (fully equipped) – Medical Center
  • Physiotherapy room
  • Press room
  • VIP boxes
  • Special seats for disabled people
  • Air conditioning
  • Central heating
  • Fire alarm
  • Telecommunication services
  • Internet services – Wi-Fi Internet access
    Omonia FC against Manchester CIty
  • CCTV
  • Matrix screen
  • Pitch size = 105m x 68m
  • Lighting = 1400 lux
  • VIP private boxes = 31
  • Press seats = 200 seats
  • Parking place = 2000 cars
  • Annual events = 100–110 events

Outdoors and yet covered, the Stadium Square offers the best of both worlds, for large-scale activities of any kind. Located between the football stadium and the track and field stadium, this vast space provides maximum flexibility, as it can be furnished and equipped, decorated or divided as required for each event. Providing ample space for activities, catering and live DJ events – with or without paid entrance facilities – the Stadium square lends itself to:

  • Full-scale parties, christenings or weddings
  • Concerts
  • Exhibitions
  • Fun fair and bazaars


GSP Track and Field Stadium

The stadium's east stand in 2008
  • Capacity = 5200 Seats
  • IAAF Certificate = Class A
  • Lighting = 800 lux

Includes :

  • Weightlifting room – Gym
  • Indoor warmup area
  • Photofinish installations
  • Lockers (fully equipped)
  • Doping control room
  • Physiotherapy room
  • Snack bars/canteens/restaurants
  • Storage rooms
  • First Aid room (fully equipped)
  • Choreography of APOEL FC fans in a Uefa Champions League game against Real Madrid
    Press Room
  • Telecommunication services
  • Special seats for disabled people
  • Air conditioning
  • Central heating
  • CCTV

Allegra GSP Sports Center

Hotel which includes:

  • 34 double rooms (athletes)
  • 4 double rooms (trainers)
  • 2 single rooms (disabled people)
  • 2 double rooms (disabled people)
  • Reception
  • Conference rooms
  • Meeting rooms
  • Play room
  • TV room
  • Restaurant
  • Cafeteria
  • Training fields
  • Gym
  • Lockers
  • Massage rooms
  • Therapy pools
  • Doping control room
  • Medical center
  • Air conditioning
  • Central heating
  • Wi-Fi Internet access
  • The stadium's north stand in the 2009 Cypriot Cup
    Telephone – In every room
  • TV – In every room
  • Parking
GSP exterior

The Club

The Gymnastic Association Pancypria was founded in 1894 with the initiative of the lawyer Theofanis Theodotou and the doctors Antonios Theodotou and Aristofanis Fenievs. Excellent athletes of GSP who won significant victories not only in Cyprus but abroad as well, brightened this stadium with their presence. GSP was linked with classic athletes of the capital and became the expresser (spirit) of the track and field.

In 1896, the G.S. Pancypria participated in the A' Pancyprian Games which took place in the G.S. Olympia Stadium in Limassol. Since then it has participated in all pancyprian games because the Pancyprian Games became a significant national feast for Cyprus, during which the stadium, where the games were taking place, was decorated with Greek flags and the national desires were proclaimed .

The athletes of GSP were declared winners of the Pancyprian Games and other games that took place in Cyprus, many times. Many of them were qualified periodically and sent abroad where they accomplished great victories.

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References
  1. https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/FirstDiv/uefaorg/Publications/01/67/03/93/1670393_DOWNLOAD.pdf
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2009-07-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Dynamo to play Valencia in Cyprus". UEFA. 19 February 2014.
  4. http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn.htm
  5. https://www.celinedion.com/in-concert/
  6. "Ticket Salges Statistics at GSP Stadium". Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  7. "22701 εισιτήρια..." kerkida.net. 2012-03-07. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
  8. 460 χιλιάδες εισιτήρια και στις δύο φάσεις του Πρωταθλήματος Cyta (in Greek). cfa.com.cy. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  9. Διατέθηκαν 413 χιλιάδες εισιτήρια σε 32 αγωνιστικές (in Greek). cfa.com.cy. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.

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