The Danish Football Union (DBU) has detailed its vision for a 50,000-seat stadium in an effort to keep up with developments in other European nations.
The masterplan was revealed through a DBU briefing issued to local football stakeholders, reported by Danish newspaper Politiken. In the briefing, the DBU wrote that Danish football needs a “modern national stadium” with capacity for a minimum of 50,000 spectators.
The Union stated it is a requirement if Denmark is to harbour aspirations of hosting major tournaments, citing the UEFA Women’s European Championship, the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the UEFA Europa League final.
Copenhagen’s Telia Parken (pictured) has been the home of the national team since it opened in its current guise in 1992, but Denmark has played at the site since 1912. The stadium will host three group stage games and a Round of 16 match during UEFA Euro 2020, a special edition of the tournament spread across Europe, but with a capacity of around 38,000 is believed to be too small to meet the DBU’s future ambitions.
DBU chairman Jesper Møller told Politiken: “The biggest challenge in Danish football is the lack of modern infrastructure. So we have set ourselves the task of doing something about it. Denmark must keep up with the other European countries. This is not something that will be completed this year or next year, but we are aiming to have that space in 2025.”
The DBU’s plan states that the national stadium must be located in the capital, and also spells out the need for a “modern stadium with seating for 25,000 spectators” elsewhere in the country. This is designed to help Denmark stage football tournaments.
The DBU is reportedly open to either building a new stadium, or redeveloping an existing venue. This potentially means that the Parken or Brøndby Stadion could be expanded. Møller added: “We need to talk to all relevant actors. This applies to both Brøndby and the Parken. But nobody has a clear first priority right now.”
Image: DBU
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