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Hafeziyeh Sport Complex | |
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| Full name | Hafezieh Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Shiraz,Iran |
| Coordinates | 29°37′26″N52°33′22″E / 29.6239°N 52.5562°E /29.6239; 52.5562 |
| Owner | Ministry of Sport and Youth (Iran) |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| Field size | 105 m × 75 m (344 ft × 246 ft) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | 104m² Jumbotron |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1 March 1945 |
| Opened | 2 January 1946 |
| Renovated | 1972, 2009, 2012 |
| Architect | Reza Mahabadi |
| Tenants | |
| Fajr Sepasi (1988–2012, 2013– ) Bargh Shiraz (1946–1985, 2008–2012) | |
TheHafeziyeh Stadium (Persian:ورزشگاه حافظیه) is amulti-purpose stadium inShiraz,Iran. It is currently used mostly forfootball matches and is the home stadium ofPersian Gulf League side,Fajr Sepasi F.C. The stadium also is used for some matches ofBargh Shiraz F.C. inAzadegan League. The stadium holds 20,000 people and is all-seater. The stadium was the host venue of2012 Hazfi Cup Final.[1]
In 1940, Iran's thenPrime MinisterMohammad-Ali Foroughi visited Shiraz and proposed a project for Shiraz to make a bid for holding the1976 AFC Asian Cup with Shiraz as second host city. The operation of the venue was officially begun on 1 March 1945 and after near ten months, the stadium was opened in January 1946.[citation needed]
Hafezieh stadium has been renovated twice, firstly in 1972 to make venue ready for the Asian Cup, which later was cancelled whenTabriz'sBagh Shomal Stadium was made second host because of its greater capacity. The second renovation began in 2009 and the capacity of the venue was upgraded from 20,000 to 22,000 seated.[2]
The match betweenFajr Sepasi andBargh Shiraz in2001–02 Iran Pro League was named the Shiraz's most attendance match with a 20,984 fans watching the match. The stadium also held fourHazfi Cup finals. The first was during2000–01 Hazfi Cup. Fajr facedZob Ahan and won the first leg 1-0 inIsfahan. The second leg was held in Hafezieh and Fajr won 2-1, leading to winning the title for the first time. Fajr was also a finalist in the2001–02 Hazfi Cup, facedEsteghlal in first leg in Shiraz. It ended with a 2-1 win for Esteghlal which helped them win the title with a 2-2 draw in second leg. Fajr also qualified to the final of2002–03 Hazfi Cup, another final with Zob Ahan but it was a loss for Fajr. The first leg held in Isfahan & they draw(2-2),The second leg was in hafezie stadium & again they draw(2-2) but one of them should win that match so in penalties Zob Ahan won(6-5). Thefinal of the2011–12 Hazfi Cup was also held at this stadium but Fajr wasn't a finalist.Esteghlal beatShahin Bushehr 4-1 on penalties on 15 March 2012 in a single match.[citation needed]
On the occasion of the Shiraz week, 12 hot air balloon flew at the same time across the city for the first time in Shiraz.[citation needed]
After the criticisms about 2012 Hazfi Cup finals held in Hafezieh because of bad grass at winter, the grass of the stadium was improved for the start of the 2012Iran Pro League season.[citation needed]