Description
The Dragana Football Stadium is one of the landmarks of the city of Porto, which is the second largest city in Portugal. The construction of Dragana Stadium was completed in November 2003, but it was not officially opened until the 2004 European Championship. The capacity of the stadium is 52202 spectators. On the opening day of the stadium there was a match between Porto's home team and Barcelona, where Lionel Messi took to the pitch for the first time as a member of the Spanish team.
The main stands of the Dragana Stadium have two tiers, while the stands behind the goal consist of one tier. Each stand has a name corresponding to the name of the sponsor. VIP-zones are located between the tiers of the main stands. The fan zones contain seats for fans in the North and South stands. The stadium has a car parking lot with 1,186 spaces. Inside the stadium there are two turntable screens, which on non-match days turn towards the area around the stadium and Ring Road. Within the stadium is the Walk of Fame. Adjacent to the stadium is a 2,115-seat sports complex where indoor soccer games are played. Access to the stadium is provided by nearby metro stations and bus stops.
Dragan Stadium adheres to the principles of energy saving and has been awarded the GreenLight certificate. According to UEFA requirements, Dragan Stadium has been awarded the highest fourth category. The sports complex has conference halls for various events, recreation areas, restaurants and many stores. Visitors can visit the Porto Museum and learn about the history of the soccer club.
In 2004, the Dragana Stadium hosted five matches in the European Championship. In 2009, the final of the Race of Champions international competition was held here. In 2019, the stadium hosted the final match of the Nations League. Also, the stadium has repeatedly hosted concerts of world-famous performers and musicians.