THE GREAT Strahov Stadium has seen quite the range of events since its completion in 1926 – but has now fallen to the effects of time.
The stadium, located in the Czech capital of Prague, was designed by Czech architect Alois Dryak.
The giant arena could accommodate 250,000 spectators in its heyday, and was primarily used in its early years to host gymnastics.
The 63,500 square-metre field is enough to fit eight football pitches, and has played host to a variety of events.
In 1938 it was the scene of an anti-war demonstration that attracted a crowd of almost 350,000 people.
Ironically, it was later commandeered to host a parade in honour of Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday the following year.
It was used as a concert venue for some of the world’s biggest musical acts following the end of communism in the region in the late 80s.
The likes of The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses, U2 and AC/DC played the venue, sometimes to crowds of over 100,000.
Still, the venue’s large size made maintenance both difficult and costly, and the terraces especially began to fall into disrepair at the turn of the millennium.
It is reported to have become a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2003, saving it from discussions of a potential demolition, but leaving the question of what should be done with the ground.
Czech giants Sparta Prague would become the unlikely beneficiaries of the spare space, with a deal being put in place to turn the sprawling field into a training venue for the side.
The pitches were even loaned to West Ham to train on as they prepared for their Conference League final clash at the Fortuna Arena in the city.
They would go on to win that match 2-1, with Jarrod Bowen scoring the decisive goal under David Moyes to hand the Hammers a European trophy.
The Great Strahov Stadium’s pitches may be being looked after, but the lack of spectators means that less care is given to the audience accommodation, which is now falling to pieces.
The terraces are unsafe to host spectators, and without massive investments being made, it is unlikely that they will host a crowd close to the ones they held many decades ago.
It is not known what will happen to the site if or when Sparta leave, with suggestions around turning the space into a hospitality hub possible but tricky due to the stadium’s historical significance.
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