KAA Gent 1-1 Cercle Brugge
Ghelamco Arena
25/10/13
Att: ~18,500
Last season we got to make our one and only trip as PDM to the Jules Ottenstadion. With a Friday timetable consisting of one lesson I was able to fly out to Belgium for the start of Half Term and it only seemed fair that we took in this match, even if the resident Cercle fan wasn't around. We arrived extra early to chance our arm at finding a parking spot near the ground, rather than use the P+R system. We were in luck, as we found a spot down near the canal barely 500 metres from the ground.
It's been a bit of a struggle for the club to get this thing built. It was first confirmed in 2003 that the ground was being built on the site, perched next to the E17 and UZ, ready for the 2006/7 season, but delays meant that it only opened this season. From a far you can't help but admit that the Ghelamco Arena is rather impressive, with the LED lit façade beaming it's 'blueness' to all those that care to look. It has a capacity of 20,000, all in a single bowl of seats, save for the extra tier for executive boxes along either side. It has something to it that other new builds don't always have. The highly perched roof is at least different, with it's sweeping design. There are a billion security cameras, not that its relevant, but we were amazed, in that they were all in blocks together hanging by the executive boxes. It's also the first 'ecostadium' in Belgium, with no metal exterior and the roof being covered by solar panels.
The game wasn't remarkable, with Cercle going ahead early on. Gent equalised late on, through an own goal, scored by a player sent off later on. The fans were OK, loud in parts, but seemed awfully frustrated by their team. There was some noise from the away end, with Cercle filling the away end.
It's been a bit of a struggle for the club to get this thing built. It was first confirmed in 2003 that the ground was being built on the site, perched next to the E17 and UZ, ready for the 2006/7 season, but delays meant that it only opened this season. From a far you can't help but admit that the Ghelamco Arena is rather impressive, with the LED lit façade beaming it's 'blueness' to all those that care to look. It has a capacity of 20,000, all in a single bowl of seats, save for the extra tier for executive boxes along either side. It has something to it that other new builds don't always have. The highly perched roof is at least different, with it's sweeping design. There are a billion security cameras, not that its relevant, but we were amazed, in that they were all in blocks together hanging by the executive boxes. It's also the first 'ecostadium' in Belgium, with no metal exterior and the roof being covered by solar panels.
The game wasn't remarkable, with Cercle going ahead early on. Gent equalised late on, through an own goal, scored by a player sent off later on. The fans were OK, loud in parts, but seemed awfully frustrated by their team. There was some noise from the away end, with Cercle filling the away end.