"Sammy Ofer" Stadium has a capacity of 30,696. Tonight it's all going yellow
Maccabi Tel Aviv are already accustomed to filling large parts of the stadiums they play in, but tonight they'll be filling not just any stadium, but Haifa's brand new "Sammy Ofer" Stadium. There they will appear for the first time for their "home" encounter with Beitar Jerusalem hoping to crown their debut with a victory.
"Sammy Ofer" Stadium was built according to UEFA and FIFA requirements. In order to ensure optimal viewing from every corner of the stadium, the pitch is situated fifteen metres lower than the entrance gates and the terraces have been placed as close as possible to the field of play. The northern, eastern and southern terraces seat 25,800 spectators, while the western terraces, six levels in all, hold another 5,000 in addition to dressing rooms, press areas, club areas and the "silver", "gold" and "diamond" sections, as well as 36 private viewing booths.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsAYyKCz0EE&feature=youtu.be
"Sammy Ofer" was built to meet European football standards as well as to host special events and provide logistical support to commercial areas situated on the western front of the stadium. A half kilometre-long service road was tunneled underneath the western terraces to receive the coaches carrying the players to their dressing rooms. The stadium roof is built from giant columns in the form of a V, each one weighing 91 tonnes. The roof construction is made of steel weighing 2,750 tonnes and the gold-coloured roofing covers an area of 27,000 metres, the largest roofing ever built in Israel. The roof is also equipped with a 400 metre-long catwalk fitted with some 200 lights to illuminate the pitch. The stadium also has three-dimensional technology broadcasting facilities never used in Israel, along with a sound system reaching a level of 107 decibels.
The pitch covers an area of 9000 square metres beneath which is a watering and drainage system connected to a recycling installation. The 3600 roof creates its own micro-climate inside the stadium and sensors on the pitch record the atmospheric conditions 24 hours a day: Temperature, humidity, amounts of light and wind. In accordance with those conditions a system of artificial lighting can be activated.
In addition to enforcing those regulations that apply in all stadiums in Israel, at "Sammy Ofer" there is no standing anywhere in the stadium except for the northern terraces, and smoking is strictly forbidden.
Here's hoping that Maccabi Tel Aviv's maiden appearance at this spectacular new stadium will send the Maccabi faithful home with smiles on their faces.
