Planet Group Arena

The Planet Group arena (also called Arteveldestadion) is a multi-use stadium in Ghent, Belgium, until 2024 known as Ghelamco Arena. It hosts the home matches of football club K.A.A. Gent and was officially opened on 17 July 2013, making it the first newly built Belgian football stadium since 1974.^[2]

Planet Group Arena

Planet Group arena in May 2024
Full name	Planet Group arena
Former names	Arteveldestadion
Location	close to the interchange E40-E17 and UZ Gent, Ghent, Belgium
Coordinates	51.016079°N 3.733786°E / 51.016079; 3.733786
Operator	K.A.A. Gent
Capacity	20,185[1]
Surface	Mixto Hybrid Grass Technology
Scoreboard	Yes
Construction
Built	2008-2013
Opened	17 July 2013
Construction cost	€ 80 million
Architect	Bontinck
General contractor	Ghelamco
Tenants
K.A.A. Gent

Planet Group arena panorama indoor.

The stadium seats 20,185^[1] and replaced the Jules Ottenstadion, which had been Gent's home since 1920.^[3] The stadium hosted its first competitive match on 4 August 2013, when Gent won 2–1 over KV Mechelen.^[4]

History

Construction

On 12 May 2003 then-alderman of Ghent Daniël Termont announced that as from the season 2006/07 the new stadium of KAA Gent would be situated on the site of the Groothandelsmarkt (Trade Market), near the R4 and the Ringvaart and close to the E17 and E40 motorways. The stadium would be given the name of Arteveldestadion (after Jacob van Artevelde) and should help in the further growth of the team.^[5] Due to multiple problems, including issued building permits and financial difficulties, it would take until 18 September 2008 before the official foundation stone could be laid by meanwhile mayor Daniël Termont and president of KAA Gent Ivan De Witte.^[6]

In 2009 new problems concerning the financing of the stadium became public. In June 2010, the city of Ghent announced that it had come to a definitive agreement with real estate developer Ghelamco about the construction and exploitation of the stadium. After approval of the adapted lease agreement in the city council, which was realized during the meeting of October 2010, the construction works were started immediately. They were scheduled to be finished before the start of the 2012–13 Belgian Pro League, but were delayed one more year.^[6]

On 31 May 2013, a few months before the official opening, it was officially announced that the stadium would be named Ghelamco Arena, after the constructor.^[7] The stadium was officially inaugurated on 17 July 2013 with and exhibition game (in which KAA Gent defeated VfB Stuttgart 2–0) and a performance by 2manydjs.^[8]

On the 30th of June 2023, the contract with Ghelamco concerning the name rights ended and the letters GHELAMCO were removed from the roof of the stadium. During the 2023-24 season, the name temporarily changed in KAA Gent Arena, in attendance of a new name and sponsor. Towards the end of that season on 2 April 2024, the stadium was renamed Planet Group arena, with Planet Group one of the companies of the new owner.^[9]

Details

Mobility

The stadium has 1,200 parking spots, mainly for employees, security and safety services, members of the press, VIPs and disabled people. In addition, there are approximately 1,000 carpool spots for supporters within a radius of 1.2 kilometers around the stadium.^[10]

Alternative ways of reaching the stadium can be found in public transport. On match days, shuttle buses drive between the arena and the Woodrow Wilson Square in the city centre. Bus lines 65 and 67 take people from the Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station to the stadium.^[11]

Entertainment

Throughout the year, businesses can rent parts of the stadium to host a variety of events.^[12] During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, all games of the Belgium national football team were shown on big screens, accompanied by performances of Belgian artists Regi Penxten, Clouseau, Natalia and Milk Inc.^[13]

Offices, retail and catering

Planet Group arena is the home base of real estate developer Ghelamco and houses an Albert Heijn store, an employment agency and a gym.

It also houses Michelin star restaurant Horseele, a bistro and a sandwich place, which are all open during the week.^[14]

Photo gallery

• 
  Planet Group arena by night
• 
  Dressing room
• 
  Players' jacuzzi
• 
  Dugout
• 
  Interior
• 
  Main entrance interior
• 
  Telenet stands
• 
  VDK Spaarbank stands

See also

• List of football stadiums in Belgium
• Lists of stadiums

References

1. Breaking New Ground Belgium The Netherlands Germany bidding to host the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 (PDF). FIFA. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
2. "'AA Gent is eindelijk een nummer 1'" (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 2013-07-17. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
3. "De Gentse voetbaltempels door de jaren heen" [The Ghent stadiums throughout the years] (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 July 2014.
4. "KAA Gent 2-1 KV Mechelen match report" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
5. "Persvoorstelling 2003" [Press conference 2003] (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 July 2014.
6. "Informatie sinds persconferentie in 2005" [Information since press conference in 2005] (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 July 2014.
7. "New Gent stadium to be named Ghelamco stadium". sporza.be. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
8. "Nagenieten van de opening van de Ghelamco Arena" [Ghelamco Arena opening afterglow] (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
9. "AA Gent heeft nieuwe stadionnaam: Sam Baro koopt met eigen bedrijf rechten voor 1 miljoen per jaar | sporza".
10. "Mobiliteit" [Mobility] (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
11. "Openbaar vervoer" [Public transport] (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
12. "Events" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
13. "Love The Samba in the Ghelamco Arena" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
14. "KAA Gent catering" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.

External links

• Official website (in Dutch)
• KAA Gent official website (in Dutch)
• Ghelamco Arena: offices & retail at the Wayback Machine (archived 2014-02-19)
• The Blue Towers: offices in the Arteveldepark
• Stadium pictures

51°00′58″N 3°44′03″E