Thursday, July 20, 2006
RSC Anderlecht
Constant Vanden Stock Stadion, Brussels, Belgium
From the Saint-Guidon metro station head south-west to Astrid Park at the far edge of which you will find the concrete, steel and shiny-glass edifice that is the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. I watched a UEFA Cup game between Anderlecht and Lens here way back in the early 1980’s and in the intervening years the ground has undergone a massive transformation.
The original stadium, then known as Stade Emile, was first constructed back in 1917, consisting at the time of a single wooden stand. Over the years this was replaced by concrete stands on all four sides in what, if my memory serves me correctly, was a pretty average looking European ground. Fast forward to 1983, and president Constant Vanden Stock began pouring millions of Belgian Francs into the complete reconstruction of what is now a truly world class stadium (if a little bit on the small side).
Old Trafford excepted, Anderlecht were the first club in Europe to install executive boxes, which can house 406 suits, a further 1,583 of whom can park their rears in a special VIP seating area, and the ground can also boasts a Michelin Guide one-star restaurant. The Vanden Stock has an overall capacity of 28,400, and as is common in a number of European countries, standing accommodation is still available behind both goals (although regulations decree that these areas are closed for UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup matches).
RSC, the most succesfull Belgian side in European football, having won the Cup Winners’ Cup & Super Cup twice and the UEFA Cup once (interspersed with 28 domestic titles), have plans afoot to boost the capacity of the Vanden Stock to 40,000 in the not to distant future.
Official Website: www.rsca.be
posted by chevblue at 7:32 PM
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