Avanhard Stadium (Luhansk)

Avanhard Stadium
Avanhard Stadium in 2014
Interactive map of Avanhard Stadium
Former names
Kliment Voroshilov Stadium
LocationLuhansk, Ukraine
OwnerLuhansk People's Republic national football team, Luhansk Peoples Republic.
Capacity22,288[1] (football)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1951
Renovated2015
Tenants
FC Zorya Luhansk (1951–2013)
Luhansk People's Republic national football team (2015–present)

Avanhard Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Luhansk, Ukraine. The stadium has a capacity of 22,288 spectators.

History

The stadium was built in 1951 as the Kliment Voroshilov Stadium. In 1957, the stadium's capacity was 7,447. It was not until 1961 that it was renamed into Avanhard (Avangard) Stadium. In 1967, the Avanhard Stadium could hold 40,000 spectators. In 1974, running tracks were installed. In 1986, due to modernization, the stadium's capacity was reduced to 32,243. In 2002, the stadium ownership changed when it was transferred from Luhanskteplovoz to the Luhansk Oblast Administration. In 2003, major renovations were conducted to the stadium's facilities, and as a result, its capacity was reduced to 22,288. In 2011, the turf was replaced, along with drainage and heat systems. This came after the Football Federation of Ukraine temporarily banned Zorya Luhansk from playing its Ukrainian Premier League matches at the stadium when it was found after a match with Volyn Lutsk that its turf was in extensive disrepair.[2]

In late July 2014, the stadium was damaged by an LPR mortar attack during the war in Donbas.[3] It has since been under the control of the Luhansk People's Republic.

The stadium was, like many stadia in Ukraine, badly damaged in the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine.[4] In 2025, the Russian-installed authorities announced they would begin work to restore the stadium and that, in the process, Avanhard would be entirely demolished to create a new stadium.[5] After negotiations, it was confirmed that the entrance would be the only thing maintained from the existing stadium.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Attendance figures for the 17th season of Ukrainian Premier League". UA Football. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  2. ↑ Цыганенко, Артем (19 September 2011). "В Луганске на стадионе Авангард уложили новый газон (+фото, видео)". UA Football (in Russian). Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "В Луганске террористы обстреляли стадион, на котором должны были играть матчи Лиги Европы". news.pn.
  4. ↑ Zecheva, Iskra (8 January 2024). "Ukraine stadiums: The other casualties of war". Football Ground Guide. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Реконструкция луганского стадиона "Авангард" "по-московски": более двух лет "составляют заключение по результатам обследования объекта"". Ostro (in Russian). 11 January 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2026.

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