David Abashidze Stadium
Zestaponi Stadium | |
Location | Zestaponi, Georgia |
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Owner | FC Zestaponi |
Capacity | 4,558 |
Field size | 105 m × 70 m (344 ft × 230 ft) |
Surface | Grass |
Scoreboard | Yes |
Tenants | |
FC Zestaponi |
David Abashidze Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Zestaponi, Georgia. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FC Zestaponi. The stadium is able to hold 4,100 people and opened in 1952. Zestaponi David Abashidze Stadium (former Central Stadium) was built by the Zestaponi Ferro-alloy Plant. A couple of matches were held on the stadium before its opening in 1951.
In 1952-1989 and 1999-2003 of Georgian Championship team FC Metallurg Zestaponi held matches on the Zestaponi central stadium, in 1990-1998 it was a home stadium for FC Margveti Zestaponi.
Since 2004, FC Zestaponi has held home matches in the stadium.
In 1981, reconstruction work was done on the arena; the west stand was roofed and the east stand was constructed. After these works capacity of the stadium increased to 8000 seats.
In 2004, after establishing FC Zestaponi, central stadium was repaired and is still being repaired to renew the arena and comply with international standards.
In 2005, works were done to renew the grass surface on the stadium. Georgian workers have constructed new drainage system of German technology. The field is watered with a watering system from an American Company “Rainbird”. (This watering system was successfully used on eight stadiums during the 2004 European Championship in Portugal.)
On the Zestaponi central stadium, the field surface, “Natural Green Carpet”, was made by the Ukrainian firm “Lidia-Park”.
FC Zestaponi management plans to build a new base for the club. Some new football fields have been constructed in Zestaponi (among them one with an artificial surface). Relevant infrastructure is being made – work out rooms are being repaired, building of new tribunes with personal seats is planned, along with the installment of a modern score-board.
On 9 April 2010 the Stadium was named after David Abashidze who contributed tremendously to the development and revival of football in Zestaponi.
Capacity of the stadium has been increased to 4 558 individual seats.