Shahid Raisi Stadium – stadium description

How was Mes Kerman FC's new stadium built?

Preparations for the construction of a new stadium for Mes Kerman FC began as early as 2003, and the main initiator of the construction was the National Iranian Copper Industries Company, a sponsor of the club from Kerman.

In 2004, representatives of Mes Kerman FC toured Europe to study local stadiums and gain information that could help in planning the construction of a new facility for their own team. Atlético Madrid's stadium, the now-defunct Estadio Vicente Calderón, was deemed the most suitable model to follow.

Back then, Mes Kerman FC played its matches at the Salimikia Stadium, located in the center of the city, but at that time another stadium was also being built in the western suburbs, the Shahid Bahonar Stadium, which opened in 2007 and then took over the role of the club's home ground.

When was the new Mes Kerman FC stadium built?

In 2006, the purchase of the land was made and construction of the new stadium began. In the same year Mes Kerman FC was also promoted to the top division. Initially, construction was expected to take 18 months, but in the meantime a number of problems were encountered, such as financial issues, problems with the stadium's structure, etc. International sanctions were also blamed for the slow progress of the project.

By 2008, 50% completion had been achieved, but then construction slowed significantly. In 2012 it was announced that the stadium would be completed within a year, but the stands of the new facility were not ready in shell condition until 2014. Then structural problems came to light, which caused further delays and increased costs.

As of 2016, the new training fields, which were built next to the stadium, were already in use. The stadium itself was not completed until 2024, which means that instead of the 18 months announced at the beginning, its construction took... 18 years (!).

In a similar time, at the National Iranian Copper Industries Company's initiative, new stadiums were also built in two other cities in the same province (in Rafsanjan and Shahr-e Babak).

When was the new Mes Kerman FC stadium opened?

The grand opening of the stadium took place on June 24, 2024, and the ceremony was attended by Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, Youth and Sports Minister Kioumars Hashemi, as well as representatives of the provincial government and the National Iranian Copper Industries Company, among others.

Mes Kerman FC moved to the new stadium only a few months after the opening – the first match at the new venue was held on December 6, 2024, when the hosts defeated Shahr Raz Shiraz 2–0 in Azadegan League (second division) game.

After whom is the new Mes Kerman FC stadium named?

The stadium opened shortly after the May 19, 2024 helicopter crash that killed, among others, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. It was decided to name the new facility after him.

What does the Mes Kerman FC stadium look like?

The stadium was built in the likeness of the Estadio Vicente Calderón, with contoured stands in a football-specific layout and a separate main stand. The facility also has features reminiscent of the local style, which can be seen especially in the buildings adjacent to the main stand.

The stands can accommodate 30,000 spectators, and the auditorium is separated from the field by a deep ditch. There are four floodlighting masts behind the corners, and a video screen has been placed on the stand behind the north goal. There is a lot of open space around the stadium.

The facility was built on an exit road, on the southeastern outskirts of the city (about 7 kilometers from the center), a piece south of the Kerman University of Medical Sciences and the main campus of the Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman.