Amsterdam Arena or Johan Cruyff Arena, is the largest stadium in Netherlands. The stadium was renamed in October 2017 in memory of legendary Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff.
€140 million were used for its construction which happens from 1993 to 1996.
The stadium has a capacity of accommodating 54,033 people for football matches and 60,000 for concerts with center-stage setup and for end-stage concerts, the capacity is 50,000 people.
A museum named Ajax Museum is located in the stadium, which shows Ajax's more than 100 years of history. This stadium is also known for the dance event Sensation that takes place every year.
This stadium is the home of the AFC Ajax since its existence in 1996. From 1997 to 2007, it was also the home of the American football club Amsterdam Admirals. The stadium also hosts most of the Dutch national team's matches.
History
To host the 1992 Summer Olympics Amsterdam was among the six cities that bid. In 1986, a new Olympic stadium was designed, with a football field and an athletics track. The plans for the new stadium was abandoned when Amsterdam lost the bid to Barcelona in October 1986.
Again in 1987 new plans were made for sports stadium with a capacity of around 55,000 people by Stichting Amsterdam Sportstad. Later in 1990, based on both previous plans new Design was made with a football field, an athletics track.By this time, AFC Ajax needed a new stadium, as their old stadium, De Meer, was far too small for most of Ajax's games due to this some of the important games of Ajax were moved to Olympisch Stadion.
On 26 November 1993 construction works were started and it took almost three years for its completion.
Ajax and Milan played the inaugural match in this stadium, which Milan won 3-0.
Major Matches
Amsterdam Arena was the venue for 1998 UEFA Champions League Final. It was also one of the stadiums in 2000 UEFA Euro Cup.
Controversies
After the death of Rinus Michels in 2005, Ajax fans wanted stadium's board to rename the stadium as the Rinus Michels Stadium. However, the board declined.
Since then, at every Ajax home game, however, fans bring a large banner displaying the words 'Rinus Michels Stadion'.
