Bodø/Glimts nye stadion – design description

When were plans to build a new stadium for FK Bodø/Glimt presented?

On September 24, 2021, at a press conference, the Bodø/Glimt club presented a preliminary concept for the construction of a new 10,000-seat football stadium, jointly developed by Gottlieb Paludan Architects and Advansia. The planning of this concept stretches back to 2018, although there have already been ideas to remodel the previously used Aspmyra Stadion or to build a completely new arena in Bodø, e.g. in connection with Sweden and Norway's bid to host Euro 2016 (which ultimately did not materialise).

What is the new FK Bodø/Glimt stadium supposed to look like?

The new stadium will have a closed, rectangular layout with covered stands surrounding the pitch on all sides. The capacity of the arena will be 10,000 spectators. The floodlights will be installed in the canopy. The facility will be partially sunk into the ground and its roof will be covered with grass. The preliminary concept presented is not final and may still be subject to changes. The stadium is planned for a completely new location in the so-called Thalleveiåkeren, near the western end of the new road tunnel (Bodøtunnelen).

The stadium itself will be a football-specific venue and will meet the requirements for UEFA club competitions and national teams, but the idea is also to create a multifunctional commercial and sports centre. Therefore, as part of the project, an indoor arena, ice rink, fitness centre, running track, gymnastics, e-sports and cycling facilities, shops, playground, kindergarten, nursing home, offices, conference rooms, catering facilities and a brewery will also be built next to the stadium.

What environmental solutions will be used in the new stadium in Bodø?

One of the key concepts is to create a socially, economically, climatically and energetically sustainable facility. The stadium will be built using environmentally friendly and recycled materials. The facility will feature a number of ecological solutions aimed at obtaining energy from renewable sources and reducing consumption.

The stadium will operate on the basis of the so-called 'circular economy' by recovering waste and heat. It is planned, among other things, to install pyrolysis systems and photovoltaic panels, and water obtained from melted snow is to be used to irrigate the pitch. The ambition is to achieve self-sufficiency in heating and electricity consumption. The solutions applied should make it possible to create one of the most environmentally friendly stadiums in the world. The club is aiming for the highest possible BREEAM certification.

Although various options were considered, one of the few areas in Bodø used for growing vegetables was selected as the preferred location. As there is a shortage of agricultural land in the city and the region, this solution runs counter to ideas of sustainability and self-sufficiency. As a compromise, it has been promised that the farmland will be transported elsewhere, although opponents argue that this will lead to a deterioration in soil quality and cause additional environmental nuisance due to transport (it is estimated that around 770 trucks will be required to transport the land).

How are efforts to build a new stadium in Bodø progressing?

On June 16, 2022, the city council approved the chosen location and the plan to transport the soil to another location. The club is still working on financing, operating models and future tenants. In favour of the supporters of the stadium construction are the recent sensational sporting results achieved by Bodø/Glimt footballers (runner-up in 2019 and champions in 2020 and 2021, as well as the quarter-finals of the European Conference League 2021/22).

Sceptics point to low attendances at Aspmyra Stadium, although supporters counter that a state-of-the-art arena, along with additional features to encourage people to spend time inside the stadium outside of match days as well, will certainly allow it to fill up significantly more. If all matters relating to the construction of the arena can be resolved, it is possible that work could begin as early as the end of 2022. The desired delivery date is 2024, when Bodø is expected to be one of the European Capitals of Culture, although a more cautious estimate is for completion in the spring of 2025.