Final countdown for Malmö
Monday, March 3, 2008
Article summary
The Malmö New Stadium, which is under construction, has been selected to host the final of the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship on 29 June 2009.
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The Malmö New Stadium will host the final of the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Sweden.
New grounds
The Malmö New Stadium (21,000 capacity) is under construction next to Malmö FF's current ground, the Malmö Stadion. It will be completed by April 2009 and, subject to it hosting five fully operational matches by June of the same year, will stage four games during the tournament, including the showpiece. The eight-team 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which runs from 15 to 29 June, will also be played in Helsingborg, Gothenburg - another new stadium - and Halmstad.
World Cup experience
The Olympia Stadion, located 65km to the north of Malmo, is home to Helsingborgs IF. It has undergone several renovations in recent times, the latest in 2001, and has hosted UEFA club competition matches. The new Göteborg Arena is scheduled for completion in December 2008. It will have a capacity of 16,700 and is due to become home to the town's three big clubs, IFK Göteborg, GAIS Göteborg and Örgryte IS. The Örjans Vall Stadium is also home to an Allsvenskan club, Halmstads BK. One of Sweden's oldest venues, it staged two games at the FIFA World Cup in 1958.
Final in Malmo
Hosts Sweden will play their first and third group matches at the Malmö New Stadium and their second fixture in Helsingborg. The Göteborg Arena and the Olympia Stadium in Helsingborg will be the setting for three group games and one semi-final apiece, with the remaining three group matches taking place at Örjans Vall. A fixture schedule will be finalised after the draw for the final tournament at Gothenburg's Svenska Mässan on Wednesday 3 December.