Arne Müseler / www.arne-mueseler.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons
Carlos Paes / Copyrighted free use
The Dr. Magalhães Pessoa stadium is a soccer stadium located in Leiria. With a capacity of 23,888, it was home to União Desportiva de Leiria until 2011.
Owner
- City of Leiria
Architect
- Tomás Taveira
History
The first stadium was built in the 1960s by the former mayor of Leiria, Dr. Manuel Magalhães Pessoa. The Dr. Magalhães Pessoa stadium underwent renovation and expansion to accommodate Euro 2004 matches. During the competition, the stadium’s capacity was temporarily 30,000, later reduced to 23,888. The stadium is predominantly used for soccer, with União Desportiva de Leiria the main occupant from its construction until the end of the 2010-2011 season.
However, in view of the low attendance figures recorded after Euro 2004 and the city’s indebtedness to pay for the stadium’s operation, the Leiria authorities, after considering demolishing the stadium, decided in July 2011 to sell it.
- This stadium is also known for being the first stadium to host the 2009 European Athletics Team Championships on June 20 and June 21, 2009.
