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20-time league winners set to demolish country’s oldest stadium for stunning £111m upgrade

20-time league winners set to demolish country’s oldest stadium for stunning £111m upgrade
Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium in Athens. IMAGO / One Inch Productions

Panathinaikos are set to demolish their current home of The Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium in the near future.

The Greek giants have been based at the venue since the start of the 1922-23 campaign, meaning that they have spent over a century in the arena.

However, due to UEFA restrictions, the 16,000-seater stadium is unable to host European contests involving the club.

As a result, Panathinaikos are currently forced to play their Europa League matches at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.

This venue is shared on occasion with a number of other clubs in the Greek Super League, including AEK Athens and Olympiacos.

The Greens have only played a single Europa League home match this term, losing to Eredivisie minnows Go Ahead Eagles on October 2.

Panathinaikos to demolish current stadium with new home pending

panathinaikos ultras gate 13 bes

According to talkSPORT, Panathinaikos' century-long stint at their current home is set to come to an end in the near future.

The report claims that The Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium will be demolished, with the area to be used as the site of a public park.

There are active plans in the works for Panathinaikos to build a new 40,000-seater stadium in West Athens, one which would meet UEFA regulations.

The Votanikos Stadium was originally scheduled to open in 2008 to mark the club's 100-year anniversary, however the plans failed to materialise.

However, the Greek government have pledged £111m to the cost of constructing a new home for one of the country's biggest football clubs.

When will the Votanikos Stadium be ready?

Construction of the new stadium commenced in April 2023, meaning that there has already been over two years of work on the site.

The venue is expected to be completed somewhere between 2026 and the beginning of the 2027-28 campaign.

As a result, Panathinaikos have a maximum of two more seasons of playing their European home matches at the Olympic Stadium.

FGG says: Much-deserved upgrade

As iconic as the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium appears, a club the size of Panathinaikos should be able to accommodate more than 16,000 supporters for a home fixture.

With a capacity of 40,000, the new stadium will allow the Greek side to grow matchday revenues across all competitions.

On top of that, the venue's compatibility with UEFA regulations will allow a better home atmosphere for Panathinaikos on European nights.

This in turn should lead to better results, with Rafael Benitez's men targeting Europa League glory this season.

Carter is a Premier League and EFL accredited journalist with over six years of reporting experience, specialising in Championship football. He has interviewed former Premier League and Champions League winners, as well as regularly attending matches and asking hard-hitting questions directly to managers in press conferences.

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