Ukraine: Metalist Kharkiv buy their stadium from the regional council for €62m

FC Metalist Kharkiv (Ukraine) have bought the Metalist Stadium (capacity: 38,000) for €62m from Kharkiv Regional Council, the municipal authorities announced on the 27/08/2013. Metalist Stadium is one of the four Ukrainian stadiums that hosted Euro 2012.

The club acquired the stadium during a tendering, in which it was the only bidder, through the SC Metalist Stadium company. The region put the stadium on the list of facilities to dispose of, on the 27/06/2013.

The aim of the club management is to diversify income sources. In particular, it wants to sell the naming rights of the stadium, rent hospitality areas, develop restoration and host concerts and performances at the Metalist Stadium.

Serhiy Kurchenko, majority shareholder of gas company Vetek, became the new president of the club on the 07/02/2013. He had expressed his desire to buy the Metalist Stadium when he took office.

• The money from the sale of the stadium will be used to build a subway line, to renovate a concert hall and city historical museum, said the mayor of Kharkiv, Hennadiy Kernes on the 27/08/2013.