AZAL Arena
{{Short description|Football stadium in Shuvelan, Baku, Azerbaijan}}
{{Infobox stadium
| stadium_name = AZAL Arena
| nickname =
| image = 250px
| location = Shuvelan, Baku, Azerbaijan
| broke ground = 2009
| opened = April 10, 2011
| owner = Shuvalan FK
| operator =
| surface = Artificial
| architect =
| former_names =
| tenants = Shuvalan FK
| seating_capacity = 3,500
}}
AZAL Arena is a football stadium in the Shuvelan settlement of Baku, Azerbaijan. It was the home stadium of Shuvalan FK. The stadium holds 3,500 people and opened in 2011.
Background
The first game ever played at AZAL Arena was AZAL PFC - FK Baku (1:0), on April 10, 2011. Belarusian striker Gennady Bliznyuk scored a first goal at the stadium.{{cite web|title=Unibank Premyer Liqası > Mövsüm > 2010-2011 > Protokollar |url=http://pfl.az/content.php?lang=az&page=182&nid=1808 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621164839/http://pfl.az/content.php?lang=az&page=182&nid=1808 |archive-date=2011-06-21 }}
On 17 February 2011, UEFA approved this stadium to be used for international football matches and gave 2 stars for the stadium category.{{cite web|title=AZAL artıq yeni stadionunda matç keçirə bilər |url=http://www.premyerliqa.az/?goal=news&id=670 |access-date=17 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706130809/http://www.premyerliqa.az/?goal=news&id=670 |archive-date=6 July 2011 }}{{cite web|title=АЗАЛ разрешили проводить еврокубки на домашнем стадионе|url=http://www.azerisport.com/football/20110216124117111.html|access-date=17 February 2011}}
Future
The club plans to construct another tribune and increase the capacity to 6000 in the coming years.
Events
The stadium was used as a training ground during 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.{{cite web|title=Elxan Məmmədov: "Azərbaycanda dövlət idmana və futbola çox yaxındır|url=http://www.milli.az/news/sport/135313.html#popupInfo|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115022301/http://www.milli.az/news/sport/135313.html%23popupInfo|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2013|access-date=30 August 2012}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Shuvalan FK}}
{{Azerbaijani Association Football venues}}
{{Baku landmarks}}
{{coord|40|29|49|N|50|11|47|E|type:landmark|display=title}}