Imarat Stadium

Imarat Stadium (Azerbaijani: İmarət stadionu), opened in 1952, was a multi-purpose stadium in Aghdam, Azerbaijan.^[1] The stadium was built in 1952 and used as home stadium by Qarabağ FK. The stadium was destroyed by bombardments from Armenian military forces during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in June 1993.^[2][3][4]

İmarət Stadium

Ruins of the stadium, August 2021
Location	Aghdam, Azerbaijan
Surface	Grass
Construction
Opened	1952
Demolished	June 1993
Tenants
Qarabağ FK

The stadium returned to Azerbaijani control on 20 November 2020 as a result of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.^[5] Following its capture, Azerbaijani forces began to clear mines from the stadium grounds.^[6] The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan has declared that the stadium will be restored.^[7] On September 19, 2024, the foundation of the new "Imarat" stadium was laid by President Ilham Aliyev,^[8] and the construction of the stadium is expected to be completed in 2026.^[9]

The biggest fan club of the Qarabağ FK, Imarat Tayfa, was also named after this stadium.^[10]

New stadium

During his visit to Aghdam, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the Imarat Stadium, which had been destroyed by Armenians, would be restored and that the stadium would retain the name "Imarat": "Work has already begun on the restoration of the Imarat complex. Its name will be "Imarat". But we will also restore Imarat anew because it was originally intended as a jidir (horse racing venue), so we will restore it in its original jidir form."^[11]

In the "First State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan," approved by President Ilham Aliyev's decree on November 16, 2022, it was planned to start the construction of the stadium in 2023 and complete it by 2026.^[9]

On September 19, 2024, the foundation of the Imarat Stadium was laid by President Ilham Aliyev. A 19.2-hectare plot of land has been allocated for the new stadium.^[8] It is planned to be built in accordance with UEFA's 4th category requirements and will have a seating capacity of 11,700 spectators.^[8]

References

1. Qarabağ` FK haqqında yazı - II yer Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
2. Vaxt olmayan yer Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
3. Ermənilərin xarabaya çevirdiyi Ağdamın «İmarət» stadionu Archived 2016-03-22 at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
4. “Caqa” ikinci dəfə lotereyada uddu Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
5. "Qarabağ müharibəsi: 8 noyabr Azərbaycanda zəfər günüdür" (in Azerbaijani). BBC Azərbaycanca. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
6. "Ağdamın "İmarət" stadionu minalardan təmizlənir" (in Azerbaijani). www.olimpiyadunyasi.com. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
7. ""İmarət" və Şuşa şəhər stadionu yenidən bərpa ediləcək" (in Azerbaijani). xebertv.info. 12 December 2020. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
8. "Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the "Imarat" Stadium in the city of Aghdam". president.az (in Azerbaijani). 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
9. ""İmarət" stadionunun tikilib istifadəyə veriləcəyi tarix bəlli olub". Report İnformasiya Agentliyi (in Azerbaijani). 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
10. ""İmarət" 10 yaşını Ağdamda qeyd etdi" (in Azerbaijani). www.sportinfo.az. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
11. "Prezident tapşırıq verdi — Ölkənin futbol həyatı üçün böyük müjdə!". Archived from the original on 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2022-01-06.

39.9928°N 46.94°E / 39.9928; 46.94