Tofiq Bahramov Respublika Stadionu

The Tofiq Bahramov Respublika Stadionu is unique in that its current purpose is to act as a temporary home for all Azerbaijani teams that reach the latter stages of European competitions. It doesn’t have a permanent tenant, and the national team no longer plays here, either.

As a result, the fan experience at the stadium isn’t at a high level, purely because it is no longer accustomed to hosting regular events.

One of the worst aspects of the stadium is the giant running track that wraps around the perimeter of the pitch. This feature means that all supporters, regardless of where their tickets are, feel distant from the action. Not only does this impact the view, but it also dampens the atmosphere.

For reference, the away section at the Ofiq Bahramov Respublika Stadionu is in blocks 26-28. These blocks can be found in the southeastern corner of the stadium.

The Tofiq Bahramov Respublika Stadionu has been thrust into the spotlight in the United Kingdom following the end of the Champions League league phase. The stadium will soon be visited by thousands of Geordies after Newcastle United were drawn to play Qarabag in the playoff round.

Although the stadium isn’t their official home, Qarabag typically play here more often than most other clubs in Azerbaijan. As a result, you can expect to hear the the Qarabag faithful make a racket if you’re ever visiting on matchday.

The running track that separates the stands and the pitch means that the view from all seats isn’t as good as it could be, but there are still some areas of the stadium that are better than others.

The entire stadium is one single tier, and as a general rule, you are best off trying to find tickets right in the middle of this tier. If you are too low, then it is going to be difficult to understand what is going on at pitch level, and if you are too high, then you are going to feel completely detached from the action.

To lessen the impact of the running track, try to get tickets on the sides as close to the halfway line as possible. If you are behind the goal, then the impact of the track only becomes greater.

Seating plan

No alcohol is served inside the stadium, so if you want to have a drink before the match, then you are going to need to find a bar. Some of the best pubs/bars in Baku include:

• Hops Pub Baku – 1005, Tarlan Aliyarbeyov street 24B, 24 Tarlan Aliyarbeyov St, Baku, Azerbaijan
• Voodoo Roof – 3rd floor, Nargiz Mall, 43C Nigar Rafibayli, Baku 1005, Azerbaijan
• 360 bar – 25th floor of Hilton, Baku, Azerbaijan

As mentioned, you are not going to be able to drink alcohol inside the stadium itself, but there are refreshment kiosks on the concourses that sell soft cold drinks if you need to hydrate during your time at the stadium. These kiosks also sell snacks, but if you want something substantial, you are going to need to eat before you arrive.

As the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku is packed full of wonderful restaurants where you will be able to either sample the local cuisine or play it safe with international dishes. Our three recommended restaurants in Baku are as follows:

• Caravan Baku – 79 Nizami St, Baku 1000, Azerbaijan
• Nergiz – Fountain Square, 9 Tərlan Əliyarbəyov, Bakı 1000, Azerbaijan
• Qala Divari – 124 Kichik Qala, Bakı 1001, Azerbaijan

The Tofiq Bahramov Respublika Stadionu is relatively close to the city centre, which makes it quite an easy stadium to get to. The central railway station is just 2.5km away from the stadium, so if you can base yourself around here, then simply walking to the ground is definitely possible.

If you would rather take public transport to the stadium, then you should take full advantage of the Baku metro system. Using either line one or two from the city centre, head towards Ganclik. From here, the stadium could not be any closer. Alternatively, consider getting a taxi to take all stress away from the situation.

The capacity at the Tofiq Bahramov Respublika Stadionu is currently 31,090, but it hasn’t always been this size. When it first opened, you could pack in up to 50,000 people due to the large standing spaces around the ground. After being reduced to 29,870 with the addition of the seats over time, the stadium was then expanded to 31,090 as part of the big reconstruction in 2012. It has remained the same ever since.

If you are sticking around for a few days after the match or arriving a few days early, then there are plenty of places worth visiting in and around Baku, whether you are looking to sample the local culture or just kill a bit of time. The following places will all offer something slightly different:

• Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center
• Baku Old City
• Highland Park
• Palace of the Shirvanshahs
• Fountain Square

The Tofiq Bahramov Respublika Stadionu was originally planned to be built in the late 1930s and early 1940s, but World War Two put an end to those plans. Eventually, the stadium opened in 1951 with a lot of the work being completed by German prisoners of war.

When it first opened, the stadium was built in the shape of a C in honour of Joseph Stalin, whom it was originally named after. In 1956, officials made the decision to remove Stalin’s name from the stadium and instead, it became known as the Vladimir Lenin Stadium. It wasn’t until 1993 that it was renamed after Tofiq Bahramov, a Russian linesman most famous for awarding England a controversial goal in the 1966 World Cup final.

It wasn’t until 2011 that the stadium received its first round of major renovation work. The entire stadium was largely reconstructed ahead of the under-17 women’s World Cup, but the running track lived to fight another day, much to the annoyance of football fans in the area.

The record attendance at the Tofiq Bahramov Respublika Stadionu is 50,000 for a match between Neftci and Galatasaray in July 1960.