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Greece: New stadium for Panathinaikos [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
A lifelong dream of Panathinaikos and their fans seems set to come true following the decision this week by the Athens Mayor Dora Bakogiannis, in cooperation with club officials from the Greek giants, to approve the construction plans for Panathinaikos’ new stadium, which is scheduled to be built in the wider area of Votanikos.
The project is expected to start in 2006 and be completed within 2008 to coincide with the team’s one hundred-year anniversary.
Panathinaikos have been looking for a new home since the early 1980s, and the new stadium, with a capacity of 35,000 to 40,000 seats, will fulfil their dream. It will enable them to secure their economic growth as their arch-rivals, Olympiakos, did with their new stadium, which has been in use since the Athens Olympics.
Panathinaikos’ old stadium, the historic “Leoforos†or “Apostolos Nikolaidis,†will be demolished and in its place a metropolitan park will be created for the city of Athens. The park will also host Panathinaikos’ museum.
Michael Paterakis
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