Hrazdan Stadium, Armenia | Home for Armenian National Team with its Capacity

Hrazdan Stadium, which was among the list of four leading stadiums in the Soviet Union, is an all-seater stadium in Yerevan, Armenia. It is also a home for Armenian National Team. Find information on this stadium as well as its capacity.

Hrazdan stadium is the main stadium in Armenia today. It is used for many events. Of course, football games are the most frequently held events here and so that many matches of the Armenian national team were enjoyed here.

Except from the Armenian national team matches, many other national and international, official and friendly matches are held in Hrazdan stadium. The capacity of the stadium allows to organize huge concerts here as well. So, far the biggest concerts in Armenia were held in Hrazdan stadium.

Construction of Hrazdan Stadium

The opening ceremony of the stadium took place in November 29, 1970, with the presence of the General Secretary of the Central Committee (CC) of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) Leonid Brezhnev.

The idea to build a stadium was first suggested by Anastas Mikoyan (First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union) during his visit to Yerevan in 1950s.

However, the idea of a stadium construction began to be discussed only in 1967, when Soviet Armenia started working on the project to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Armenia’s Sovietization in 1970. So, a number of architects grouped and proposed the construction of a football venue, which was supposed to have a capacity of 70.000 spectators.

The construction began in 1968 by the architects Koryun Hakobyan and Gurgen Musheghyan, engineer Edward Tossunian, highly supervised by the First Secretary of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic Karen Demirchyan, and completed in 18 months.

Capacity and Renovation of Hrazdan Stadium

The earliest idea of constructing a football venue in Hrazdan gorge, suggested by Anastas Mikoyan, was intended for 30.000 spectators.

However, his ideas did not come into being and another plan for the construction was proposed by Soviet Armenian architects Koryun Hakopyan and Gurgen Musheghyan. The stadium was intended to host around 75.000 spectators.

In 2004 Hrazdan stadium was sold to Hrazdan Holding Closed Joint Stock Company and they began a renovation program in 2005. As a result, in 2008 the stadium became an all-seater stadium and currently hosts 54.208 spectators.

Tourist Information

Hrazdan stadium is located in Yerevan, 4/1 Hrazdan gorge and it is quite easy to get there from city center, since the stadium is only about 15 minutes-drive from the center. If you are in the city center and want to get to Hrazdan stadium, just take buses # 27 or 63 and you’ll be there in 15 minutes-time.

The stadium is built in Hrazdan gorge, where an aqueduct bridge is constructed across the river Hrazdan to convey the water of the river. Hrazdan River is the second largest river in Armenia originating from the lake Sevan and flowing through Kotayk province and Yerevan.

Places to See Near Hrazdan Stadium

Among the famous places near Hrazdan stadium, are: Yerevan Brandy Company, Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, Tumanyan park, Dalma Garden Mall and others. Each of them is at most 10 minutes from the stadium.

Yerevan Brandy Company is the leading cognac producing company in Armenia, very often referred to as Ararat (because of its famous brand). The company was founded in the territory of Erivan Fortress in 1887 by Nerses Tairyan, later sold to Russian businessman Nikolay Shustov.

Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, also called Hamalir, is the largest sports and concerts complex, with stairs leading up to Tsitsernakaberd memorial. The complex consists of 2 halls: Sports hall and Concerts hall, with a capacity of 8008 and 2008 seats.

The design of the complex is indeed very unique, reminding of a big bird with open wings. From the day of its operation, Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex hosted many concerts by famous artists (Garou, Deep Purple, Lara Fabian, Joe Cocker, Okean Elzy, etc.).

Another place, worth visiting is Tumanyan Park, near Hamalir, called after the national poet of All Armenians Hovhannes Tumanyan. It is a very quite and pleasant place to visit with family and friends. Here, the natural territory and the River Hrazdan, make an atmosphere of real harmony and relaxation.

And lastly, it is worth mentioning Dalma Garden Mall, which is the first family entertainment complex in Armenia, offering more than 110 brand stores, a supermarket, cafes, children playground, cinema and a food court. Dalma Garden Mall is one of the best places to shop and have fun at the same time. For locals and foreigners there free buses running daily from the city center to Dalma.

Famous Events in Hrazdan Stadium

Hrazdan stadium hosts not only football matches of Armenian National team and international games, but also many concerts are very often organized here.

One of the most famous concerts, organized in Hrazdan stadium, which later was remarked as the highest-attended performance in the history of Armenia, was Armenian famous singer Harout Pamboukjian’s concert in 1989. More than 110.000 fans gathered to hear revolutionary and patriotic songs performed by the singer.

The highest attendance matches during the Soviet era were the following:

Since 1996 Hrazdan stadium has hosted many other events. We can definitely claim that matches of Armenian national team were the most crowded ones.

There were other matches, which though had lower attendance, but are worth mentioning. Among them are:

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