By Jaroslaw Adamowski
April 28 – Hungary’s MTK is planning to spend 6.5 billion forint (€21 million) on building a new stadium, according to Tamas Deutsch, the club’s chief executive.
Construction works at the stadium are scheduled to be completed by 2020, reported local news daily Nepszava. The new facility will have a 5,000 seating capacity. MTK’s Hidegkuti Nándor stadium has a total capacity of 12,700, including 5,700 seats, according to data from MTK. Modernisation works at the facility were launched in 1995.
Last year, the Hungarian government announced the launch of a 40 billion forint (€129 million) government programme to modernise and expand 27 Hungarian football stadiums by 2016. The programme has been developed in cooperation with the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ).
With the aim of supporting the planned investment by MTK, the MLSZ is to allocate a grant of 1.016 billion forint (€3.3 million) to the construction of the new stadium.
The facility will allow the club to boost its revenue streams, according to Deutsch. The new stadium will host the club’s museum and fan store.
MTK currently plays in the Nemzeti Bajnoksag I, the top tier of the Hungarian professional football league.
The Budapest-based club is ranked among one of the most successful Hungarian football clubs. Between 1904 and 2008, MTK won the Hungarian League 23 times and the Hungarian Cup 12 times. The club also won the Hungarian Super Cup in 2003 and 2008.
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