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Full name | Kukës Arena |
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Former names | Përparimi (until 2010) Zeqir Ymeri (2010-2022) |
Address | Rruga Stadiumi, 8501 |
Location | Kukës, Albania |
Coordinates | 42°04′44″N 20°25′13″E / 42.07889°N 20.42028°E |
Owner | Municipality of Kukës |
Operator | Municipality of Kukës |
Capacity | 6,322 |
Field size | 100 by 74 metres (109 yd × 81 yd) |
Surface | Grass |
Construction | |
Built | 2021-2022 |
Opened | 23 April 2022 |
Construction cost | 80 millionë
Lekë ( €576,000) |
Architect | Mujo Noka |
Structural engineer | Vladimir Spahiu |
General contractor | Fatjoni Sh.P.K |
Tenants | |
2012-present |
The Kukës Arena is a stadium in Kukës, Albania. It is mainly used for football matches and is the home ground of the Kategoria Superiore club Kukësi. [1] [2] The stadium was built on the site of the pre-existing Përparimi Stadium, located near the center of Kukës on Rruga Stadiumi (Stadium Street). [3] [4]
During a friendly match between Kukësi U17 and Liria U17 on November 30, 2012, 17-year-old footballer Ilirjan Thaçi collapsed and died on the field after suffering a heart attack related to a previously undetected heart problem. Thaçi, born in 1995, was a defender on the books of FK Kukësi, his hometown club where he was also a lifelong supporter. He collapsed in the tenth minute of a friendly match and died of a myocardial infarction despite efforts to resuscitate him. [5] The following weekend, a minute's silence was held before every match in Albania in memory of Thaçi, [6] and there were also calls for the stadium to be renamed after Thaçi. [7] In his memory, a mini-tournament was held between six youth teams from Albania and Kosovo, organized by FK Kukësi president Safet Gjici. [8]