Aleppo International Stadium – stadium description

When it was announced that Syria plans to build a large 33-hectare sports city in Aleppo in late 1970s, word was of one of the world's most modern stadiums. Stadium design was carried out by Polish architect Stanisław Kuś with his associates. Massive stands divided into three tiers (approximately 35 / 20 / 20 thousand each) were to be covered by even bigger concrete roof. With 80,000 sqm it was to be the world's second largest structure of this kind.

Unfortunately this proved too much to handle for the Syrian government and while two secondary stadiums were finished along with other small venues, the main stadium construction has been halted after a few years at a very early stage. Construction was relaunched after securing financing only in 2003 (!) and ended in early 2007, making the process last a record 27 years.

The stadium comprises five floors of infrastructure and became the home of Al-Ittihad Aleppo who moved from the smaller naighbour, Al-Hamadaniah Stadium in 2007.