Former names | Potcoava Giuleştiului (Horseshoe of Giulesti) |
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Location | Bucharest, Romania |
Owner | Ministry of Transport |
Operator | Rapid Bucureşti |
Capacity | 11,704, restricted from 19,100 Football (soccer) |
Surface | Grass |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1936 |
Opened | 10 June 1939 |
Expanded | 1986–1996 |
Architect | Gheorghe Dumitrescu (1936) |
Tenants | |
Rapid Bucureşti (1939–present) Sportul Studențesc (2013) |
Coordinates: 44°27′21.35″N 26°3′24.59″E / 44.4559306°N 26.0568306°E
Giuleşti-Valentin Stănescu Stadium is a football stadium in Bucharest, Romania and is the home stadium of Rapid Bucureşti.
The stadium is named after Valentin Stănescu, the coach that helped Rapid to win its first title, but it is still commonly known as the "Giuleşti Stadium", after the name of the neighborhood in which it is located. Landmarks near the stadium include Podul Grant, Giuleşti Theatre, Gara de Nord and the Grivița Railway Yards.
Construction started in the year 1936 and the stadium was inaugurated on 10 June 1939. At the time, it was the most modern stadium in Romania, a smaller replica of Arsenal's Highbury Stadium, with a capacity of 12,160 seats. Among the guests at the opening ceremony King Carol II of Romania, Prince Mihai of Romania and Prince Paul of Greece.
Replacement of the north stand was completed in the mid-1990s, increasing the capacity to 19,100 seats. The stadium was renovated again in 2003.