Lahden kisapuisto – stadium description

Opened in 1952, the most central stadium in Lahti was among the grounds built specifically for the Helsinki Olympics. It hosted three games of that tournament but, despite nominal capacity of app. 8,000 at that time, attendances for all games were below 4,000.

For years it was the main football stadium of Lahti, retaining this role until the greater Lahden Stadion opened just under 800 meters west, in 1981.

The stadium was traditionally home to Reipas, club established by displaced residents of Viipuri. The anchor tenant changed in 1996, when – as a result of Reipas' financial collapse – FC Lahti was created as the city's major club. However, Reipas later returned to professional football. Finnish legend Jari Litmanen had his debut here as a Reipas player and the statue of him has been erected in the north-eastern corner.

Historically attendances of over 5,000 were seen here on a number of occasions, while the club record of Reipas stands at 8,144 people. However, due to conversion to all-seater, it now holds just over 3,000 people.