The Kukës Arena is a stadiuminKukës, Albania. It is mainly used for football matches and is the home ground of the Kategoria Superiore club Kukësi.[1][2] The stadium was built on the site of the pre-existing Përparimi Stadium, located near the center of Kukës on Rruga Stadiumi (Stadium Street).[3][4]
The rebuilt stadium in 2023
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| Full name | Kukës Arena |
|---|---|
| Former names | Përparimi (until 2010) Zeqir Ymeri (2010-2022) |
| Address | Rruga Stadiumi, 8501 |
| Location | Kukës, Albania |
| Coordinates | 42°04′44″N 20°25′13″E / 42.07889°N 20.42028°E / 42.07889; 20.42028 |
| Owner | Municipality of Kukës |
| Operator | Municipality of Kukës |
| Capacity | 6,322 |
| Field size | 100 by 74 metres (109 yd × 81 yd) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 2021-2022 |
| Opened | 23 April 2022; 2 years ago (2022-04-23) |
| Construction cost | 80 millionë Lekë (€576,000) |
| Architect | Mujo Noka |
| Structural engineer | Vladimir Spahiu |
| General contractor | Fatjoni Sh.P.K |
| Tenants | |
| 2012-present | |
During a friendly match between Kukësi U17 and Liria U17 on November 30, 2012, 17-year-old footballer Ilirjan Thaçi collapsed and died on the field after suffering a heart attack related to a previously undetected heart problem. Thaçi, born in 1995, was a defender on the books of FK Kukësi, his hometown club where he was also a lifelong supporter. He collapsed in the tenth minute of a friendly match and died of a myocardial infarction despite efforts to resuscitate him.[5] The following weekend, a minute's silence was held before every match in Albania in memory of Thaçi,[6] and there were also calls for the stadium to be renamed after Thaçi.[7] In his memory, a mini-tournament was held between six youth teams from Albania and Kosovo, organized by FK Kukësi president Safet Gjici.[8]
