Olympic Stadium Athens Spiros Louis

The Olympic Athletic Center of Athens “Spiros Louis” is also known as the OAKA stadium. Built in the early 1980s, the destination started hosting sporting events from the European Athletics Championships in 1982. The ground is named after Spiros Louis, who is an iconic Greek sports after winning the Olympic marathon in the late 1800s. The Spiros Louis is a relatively old stadium but it has had a lot of innovation in recent years.

What is it like for visiting supporters?

Any visiting supporter to the OAKA stadium will be treated to a lot of history and culture. The ground has been recently renovated to provide modern facilities in almost every regard. The expansive nature of the stadium, though, can limit the atmosphere generated by supporters. However, there can be no complaints when a high profile match like a derby with AEK Athens or a Champions League game is around the corner.

Since the ground is located in a region that is primarily residential, there are plenty of options to get involved. A few shopping malls are located near the stadium and they provide enough scope for getting to know the drinking and eating options in the region. These malls can also be a great place to experience cinema. A fan need not spend a lot of money trying to attend matches even if the OAKA stadium is not located near the city centre. There are a ton of hotels to stay in almost every budget. For a visiting supporter who wants to spend more time in the process of exploring Athens, it is a good idea to visit the city centre as the options are much higher.

The Spiros Louis or the OAKA stadium happens to be located in the northern part of Athens. It is about 9 km away from the city centre. One has to input the following address into the satnav:

37 Kifissias Ave. and Spirou Loui, Maroussi, Athens

As a result of being a little far away from the city centre, OAKA stadium has the advantage in terms of parking spaces that can be found in abundance. Since the renovation, a lot of attention has also been given to parking facilities. It can become difficult to reach the stadium by car on match days, as the traffic can be quite high. It is always better to start early when trying to drive to the stadium.

By train or metro

A visitor who wants to get to the OAKA stadium using public transport will be spoilt for choices. The line 1 in Athens Metro will take visitors directly to the stadium. When taking the Metro, the key station to look out for will be the Eirini station. Since the station is located just outside the sports complex, it will take no longer than a few minutes to reach the seats.

One can also take the bus to reach the stadium. The A7, B7, 441, 602, 550, X14, X15, M1, and X40 will take users directly to the stadium.

The best way to get tickets for the OAKA stadium would be to use the online facility. The ticket office at the stadium is also a great place, but it can be difficult to get tickets for very popular matches. For example, Champions League games at this ground can be quite difficult to watch due to the overwhelming popularity. One advantage could be the availability of seats at a lower cost compared to most other European stadiums. It would cost around € 10 for a ticket behind the goal. The VIP tickets, meanwhile, is priced at around € 100 while the long sides could end up costing between €15 and €40. The tickets tend to be available around a week before the game, but sale of tickets for high-profile matches could begin earlier. The regular league matches involving Panathinaikos do not sell out consistently.

Panathinaikos Kosmos

Olympiakos and AEK Athens (Panathinaikos)

Even though OAKA stadium was not so great in terms of support for disabled spectators in its initial years, the renovation work that took place within the last decade has brought about a sizeable change. Now, supporters with disability get a lot of help when they tried to get to their seats. The state-of-the-art facility now includes special access for people with wheelchairs, special parking, and more.

One can avail tours of the OAKA stadium, which are organised as groups that contain 15 or more visitors. Unlike in most cases where stadium tours can end up costing a lot of money, OAKA stadium charges only three euros per person for a stadium tour. Those who are interested should get in touch with the complex by faxing their interest. The fee of three euros per person is applicable for any visitor who is above 12 years of age. It is recommended to book the tour in advance to avoid any last minute disappointment.

Record Attendance

Olympiacos vs HSV in 1983: 75,263

Average Attendance

2019-2020: 5,535 (Super League 1)

2018-2019: 6,021 (Super League 1)

2017-2018: 6,485 (Super League 1)