Kukës Arena

The Kukës Arena is a stadium in Kukës, Albania. It is primarily used for football matches and it is the home ground of Kategoria Superiore club Kukësi.[1][2] The stadium was built on the site of the pre-existing Përparimi Stadium, located near the centre of Kukës on Rruga Stadiumi (Stadium Road).[3][4]

Kukës Arena
The new stadium in 2023
Full nameKukës Arena
Former namesPërparimi Stadium (until 2010)
Zeqir Ymeri Stadium (2010–2022)
LocationRruga Stadiumi
Kukës, Albania
Coordinates42°04′44″N 20°25′13″E
OwnerMunicipality of Kukës
OperatorMunicipality of Kukës
Capacity6,322
Field size100 by 74 metres (109 yd × 81 yd)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built2021–2022
Opened23 April 2022 (2022-04-23)
Construction cost80 million lek
€576,000
ArchitectMujo Noka
Structural engineerVladimir Spahiu
General contractorFatjoni Sh.P.K
Tenants
Kukësi
2012–present

History

Ilirjan Thaçi
Ilirjan Thaçi (1995–2012), during an FK Kukësi game at the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium.

During a friendly game between FK Kukësi U17 and KF Liria U17 on 30 November 2013, 17 year old footballer Ilirjan Thaçi collapsed and died on field following a heart attack related to a previously undetected heart problem. Thaçi was born in 1995 and he was a defender on the books at FK Kukësi, his hometown club where he was also a lifelong supporter. He collapsed during the tenth minute of the friendly game and he died having suffered a myocardial infarction, despite efforts to resuscitate him.[5] A minutes silence was held before every game in Albania the following weekend in memory of Thaçi,[6] and there were also calls for the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium to be renamed after Thaçi.[7] A mini tournament was held in his memory consisting of six youth sides from Albania and Kosovo, which was organised by FK Kukësi's president Safet Gjici.[8]

  • Old stadium
    Old stadium
  • Old stadium
    Old stadium

References
  1. FK Kukesi official website - Stadium
  2. Stadium me 5 mijë vende, në Kukës nisin punimet Archived February 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Bashkia e Kukësit i hap rrugë ndërtimit të stadiumit 15/06/2012". Sportishqiptar.com.al. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  4. Shqip, Gazeta (2012-06-21). ""Kukësi, me stadium të ri në shtator, me kapacitet prej 5 mijë vendesh" from Gazeta Shqip, June 21, 2012". Gazeta-shqip.com. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  5. Tragedi skakar albansk fotboll.
  6. Futbolli shqiptar mban zi per Ilirjan Thaci
  7. Peticioni: Stadiumi i Kukësit të quhet “Ilirjan Thaçi” Archived February 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Përkujtohet futbollisti i Kukësit Ilirjan Thaçi". Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
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