Aker Stadion
| Røkkeløkka | |
 |
|
| Former names | Molde Stadion |
|---|---|
| Location | Reknes, Molde, Norway |
| Coordinates | 62°44′0.0″N 7°8′52.1″E / 62.733333°N 7.147806°ECoordinates: 62°44′0.0″N 7°8′52.1″E / 62.733333°N 7.147806°E |
| Owner | Molde FK |
| Operator | Molde FK |
| Capacity | 11,800 |
| Record attendance | 13,308 |
| Field size | 105 × 68 m |
| Surface | Artificial Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1997 |
| Opened | 18 April 1998 |
| Construction cost | NOK 212 million |
| Architect | Kjell Kosberg |
| Tenants | |
| Molde FK (1998–present) | |
Aker Stadion, formerly known as Molde Stadion, is a football stadium located at Reknes in Molde, Norway, and is the home of Norwegian Premier League club Molde. The stadium has a capacity of 11,800 spectators.
The building was designed by architect Kjell Kosberg. It cost 212 million kr, most of which was paid for by club-owner Kjell Inge Røkke—after whom the ground has been nicknamed "Røkkeløkka". The main construction work took place 1997, and the stadium was inaugurated on 18 April 1998 in a league game against Lillestrøm, replacing Molde idrettspark as Molde's home ground. The stadium was nominated for the FIABCI Prix D' Excellence and awarded the City Prize in 1999. The record attendance of 13,308 was set in a league match against Rosenborg in 1998. The same year, the arena hosted its first international match, where Norway beat Saudi Arabia 6–0. The following year, when Molde reached the UEFA Champions League, the stadium was converted to an all-seater, reducing its capacity. Since May 2006, the stadium name has been sponsored by Røkke's company Aker. The grass pitch was replaced with artificial turf in 2014.
Since 1955, Molde had been playing their home games at Molde idrettspark (at the time called Molde stadion), a municipal-owned multi-use venue. A new stadium was proposed to be located at the waterfront at Reknes. There were many local protests, including complaints about the size of the structure. Construction of the land fillings and preparation of the construction site started in March 1997, before final approval had been granted by the municipality.
The stadium was inaugurated on 18 April 1998, when the stadium was officially opened by Prime Minister and Molde-fan Kjell Magne Bondevik. In the opening match, Molde beat Lillestrøm 4–0 in their first home game of the season, attracting 13,010 spectators. During the season, this was the match in the country with the most spectators not hosted at Rosenborg's home ground Lerkendal. On 27 May, the arena hosted its only international match, with Norway beating Saudi Arabia 6–0 in a 1998 World Cup friendly. On 11 August, CSKA Sofia visited Molde for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, for which Molde failed to qualify. The all-time spectator record was set on 26 September, when Molde hosted Rosenborg BK in front of 13,308 people.
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