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]
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Full name | Kukës Arena |
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Former names | Përparimi Stadium (until 2010) Zeqir Ymeri Stadium (2010–2022) |
Location | Rruga Stadiumi Kukës, Albania |
Coordinates | 42°04′44″N 20°25′13″E |
Owner | Municipality of Kukës |
Operator | Municipality of Kukës |
Capacity | 6,322 |
Field size | 100 by 74 metres (109 yd × 81 yd) |
Surface | Grass |
Construction | |
Built | 2021–2022 |
Opened | 23 April 2022; 5 months ago (2022-04-23) |
Construction cost | 80 million lek €576,000 |
Architect | Mujo Noka |
Structural engineer | Vladimir Spahiu |
General contractor | Fatjoni Sh.P.K |
Tenants | |
2012–present | |
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2018) |
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]
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Football stadiums |
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International stadiums | |
Training facilities |
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Indoor arenas |