Viking Stadion

Viking stadion
Location	Jåttåvågen, Stavanger
Broke ground	2003
Opened	May 1, 2004
Owner	Viking F.K.
Operator	Viking F.K.
Surface	Grass
Construction cost	€ 20 million (euros)
Architect	LINK signatur AS / NBBJ Design
Capacity	16,300 (football)
Tenants
Viking FK (2004–present)

Viking Stadion is a football stadium, built at Jåttåvågen, in Stavanger, Norway. It was inaugurated in May 2004 and cost 160 million NOK to build (€ 20 million). 50 million NOK, plus the lot it was built on, was a gift from the municipality. It replaced Stavanger Stadion as the home stadium for Viking F.K.. Among the persons present at the official opening match were the coach of the Norwegian national football team Åge Hareide, Norwegian Idol winner Kjartan Salvesen and Kjell Inge Røkke.

Viking stadion 17 September 2006

The stadium can also host large music concerts and events, and among the artists who have played in Viking Stadium are Bryan Adams, R.E.M., Roger Waters, Bob Dylan, Sissel Kyrkjebø & Plácido Domingo.

In 2006, the stadium was expanded beyond the original capacity of 15,000, and now fits 16,300 people. The record attendance is 16,600 (vs Brann, 2007).

Right outside the stadium is Jåttåvågen Station that serves commuter trains on Jærbanen.

The venue has hosted Norway national under-21 football team matches four times, playing 1–0 against Spain on 31 May 2006, 1–1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 6 September 2006, 2–2 against Slovakia on 10 June 2009 and 2–2 against Belgium on 10 November 2011.

Future expansion

The club is now planning a further permanent expansion of the stadium. By adding a new upper tier to the south and east stands, the capacity will be increased to 22,000. The plan is to have the expansion completed by 2016. Should Norway and Sweden's application for the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament go through, a temporary expansion to 35,000 will be considered. The expansion to 22,000 will, however, be carried out regardless of whether Stavanger is chosen as a Euro 2016 host or not.