(haipo) - 8 years have passed since Sami Ofer was inaugurated with great fanfare - what has been realized from the vision and what plans have not come to fruition and is there a chance that we will get to see international performances in Haifa at some point? We spoke with the CEO of the stadium, Lior Perry.
An investment of about half a billion shekels
Sami Ofer Stadium was inaugurated in 2014, after half a billion shekels were invested in its construction. Already in the same year, the invested structure won the eighth place in the choice of the professionals in the international competition "Stadium of the Year in the World 2014".
High standards and many programs
The stadium was designed to be suitable for football games at a European level, to host cultural performances and entertainment by first-class artists, while providing optimal logistical support and a phenomenal acoustics experience, never seen before in Israel. 10,000 square meters out of the 20,000 square meters of the commercial complex, on the western front of the stadium, was intended for the construction of cinemas, and next to them commercial, entertainment areas, restaurants, cafes and bars were also planned, in an area of approximately 7,000 square meters.
High running cost
The ongoing cost is high (around NIS 7 million per year, according to previous publications). The vision was that, in addition to football games, the stadium would host singers and bands at an international level, and all the major events in Israel would take place there. This is how the city officials planned to balance the high expense account. 8 Monday after and nothing Nothing is happening... no commercial space, no artist performances, nothing.
We spoke with Lior Perry, the general manager of the stadium, to try to understand why the stadium is not realizing its potential, unlike what happens in similar stadiums around the world.
Lior Perry: "The Sami Ofer Stadium was established as a football stadium of international standards, and serves as the home stadium of the two Haifa teams, Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Haifa. The most advanced and modern stadium in Israel also hosts games of the Israel national team, the football association games, exhibition games (such as the peace game) and host international games.
Just to clarify, the stadium has hosted approximately 2014 games since its opening in the summer of 400, and approximately 550,000 spectators enter its gates each year (approximately 4.5 million people in total over the past eight years). Also, millions of people watched the games, broadcasts The various ones broadcast in Israel and around the world. The games are managed at the highest level, and the stadium staff receives compliments from most of the professionals in the field.
In the last four years, the stadium also serves as a center for conferences, events, exhibitions and fairs. On average, about 150 events are held every year (of course within the constraints of game times), using the unique properties found in the complex, which include, among other things, hospitality halls, meeting rooms and more. The stadium team works with dedication to provide a quality and enjoyable service to its guests, while adapting the complex to the customer's needs so that all guests will enjoy an exciting and special experience.
Guided tours
The operation of the aforementioned event complex constitutes additional income for the stadium and the city. In addition, there are guided tours in the stadium for the general public, very special tours that allow a glimpse into the "behind the scenes" of the stadium and how the evaluations for the football games in general. These tours are subject to a fee and their dates are published on the stadium website. Guests come for the tours from all over the country.
It should be noted that the stadium management recognized the potential that exists around the complex, in the outer perimeter square - which is very active with an emphasis on the afternoon hours for travelers and amateur athletes, active athletes in running and cycling groups, etc. and therefore encourages this activity - by installing an activity track for children (Ninja) In the eastern region, the installation of cold drink stations (collars), the installation of an air filling device for bicycles, the establishment of a running track around the stadium and more.
Regarding the production of large events in the stadium itself, there were talks and negotiations with producers who expressed interest in holding huge shows in the stadium, which did not come to fruition, because the consideration of economic viability is a critical element in the decision, hence the difficulty."
If there is a difficulty of economic viability, how is it that we see great singers from abroad come to perform in Tel Aviv and not in Haifa, in the stadium designated for that purpose?
"Regarding the performance on the lawn - holding a performance requires contacting a producer, with the adjustments that must be made in the facility, which include, among other things, the dismantling of stands and the installation of a surface for roofing the lawn, which I will detail later, as well as the construction of a stage, scenery, etc., which take at least a week or more depending on the size of the event.
Due to the contractual commitment to the soccer teams and in light of the city's commitment to prioritize and take care of the Haifa teams, at the Sami Ofer Stadium it will be possible to perform on the lawn only when there are no soccer games in the various frameworks and when the grass is not reseeded (reseeding) and for this there are at most less than two weeks left in a year."
- grass field: At the end of the football season, usually at the beginning of June, and before the start of the next football season at the end of July, there is a period of between 5-7 weeks in which it is necessary to change the grass surface from a winter variety to a summer grass variety. This action includes preparing and treating the soil, planting new grass seeds, feeding and watering until they germinate and grow strong. This action is necessary, in order for the surface to be prepared and ready for the next season's games. It is not possible to give up the performance of the arm operation, since it enables the maintenance of the grass at the highest level according to UEFA requirements.
'A large event requires special adjustments in the complex'
"It is important to understand that as is customary in the world in the field of producing events on grass, it is necessary to install a special cover, in order to maintain the surface and protect it from damage, both on the grass itself and on the underground infrastructure that exists under the grass in the stadium. The cost of renting and installing this cover for a single event is approx. -350,000 shekels.
Also, during an event on the grass at Sami Ofer Stadium, the licensing and safety requirements require that 2 blocks of stands on the eastern side be separated in favor of escape routes. The cost of this is estimated at one hundred and fifty thousand shekels.
I will note that in the past, even before the Corona period and even during it, there were talks and negotiations with producers who expressed interest in holding huge shows in the stadium, which have not matured so far, due to the high costs involved in adapting the stadium. In the past, out of a desire to promote the issue of concerts, a show by the singer Omer Adam was held, which was partly financed by the Haifa municipality.
The trading areas
Why is the huge commercial area not utilized and contains only one store (Burger Salon)?
"Marketing and operation of the commercial areas has been gaining momentum in the last year. In the stadium, an ice cream cafe is planned to open this summer, called "Scatz", the first two-dimensional cafe of its kind in Israel. Deep thinking and money are invested in its establishment to make the place a magnet for both the residents of the Neot Peres neighborhood , for the residents of Haifa and the area and visitors to the complex at games and on a daily basis."
"The first sports medicine club in the north"
"Sketch" is located next to the very active Burger Salon restaurant. Soon the establishment of the first sports medicine club in the north, unique in an area of approximately 1100 square meters, will begin. The "Medics" company, which is currently considered the largest and most advanced sports medicine center in Israel, is located in the Olympic Committee House in Tel Aviv, and is establishing a new and leading branch in our commercial area that will serve the population of the north, in the format of a one stop shop in the field of sports medicine.
The new center will be built to an international standard and will include, among other things, a sports testing laboratory (regular and advanced), a large and well-equipped physical therapy institute, a computerized laboratory for adjusting bicycles to the rider, a hydrotherapy-therapeutic pool, a doctor's office (sports medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, imaging, etc.), sports psychology , sports nutrition, advanced technological tests and diagnoses, sports massages, rehabilitative Pilates and more. A therapeutic pool will also be built.
The rehabilitation center will provide services to the northern population, from Hadera to the north, starting with youth associations, amateur athletes, professional athletes, orthopedic problems and more."
In addition, two agreements were signed for the staffing of the commercial spaces: the first for the establishment of the football museum of the Maccabi Haifa club and the second for the establishment of a Maccabi Haifa store to sell merchandise (branded goods) to fans, as is customary in stadiums around the world. These projects will add significantly to the attractiveness of the place, will add a lot of traffic of visitors and guests who will be able to visit and enjoy this unique and fascinating sports culture project."
What are the upcoming plans?
"Soon, a tender will be publicly distributed as an obligation - a tender for the construction and operation of the rest of the commercial space in the complex on the 1st floor, while adapting to a unique mix carefully written and after a thorough examination, adapted to the stadium, which will include options for sports, leisure, entertainment, commerce and catering."
What is the vision for the near/distant future?
"Our vision is, first of all, to continue to be the leading soccer stadium in Israel, which provides an exceptional experience, to continue to develop the commercial areas in the stadium, to host exhibition games that will bring fans from all over the country to the city, and to continue improving the customer experience. We have only recently improved the entrance control to enable faster entrance at games , we established a call center for fans who can report malfunctions in games in real time, we upgraded the Wi-Fi network, and installed 5th generation cellular infrastructure, and we will continue to invest and serve our customers faithfully.
We approached city council member Hadva Almog, who was a partner in the process for approving the construction of the stadium and a partner in the vision that formed around its construction, and asked her why in her opinion the stadium is not realizing its potential and the diverse plans intended for it.
"The stadium can bring many attractions to Haifa"
"Today I am not familiar with the details of why the issue of using the stadium for events is not developed," Almog says, "at the time there was an event by Omar Adam that brought a huge crowd to the place as well as other events for large companies. It is clear that in order to hold events on the grass, the place must be adapted, as the grass is sensitive But like everywhere in the world there are solutions and it is important to use the place for events of the order of 30,000 people, who can enjoy shows in the spectacular stadium and bring additional bonuses of attractions to Haifa, following the desire to use the commercial areas. I understood that there are plans and that the CEO of the stadium brought plans. There is no doubt that the location of the stadium and the possibilities inherent in it can help in holding the stadium. I estimate that in the next term the plans will be implemented," Almog concluded.
On days when there are no games in the stadium, why is there no easy access to the Burgersalon restaurant?
Ofer Stadium in Haifa is very impressive. good week.
Commercial areas, shows, tours, and only the most central problem is not mentioned in the article: already this year the stadium is too narrow to contain the amount of Maccabi Haifa's crowd. Neither in Europe nor in the league. The fact that Maccabi Haifa has been forced for two years not to allow the addition of new subscribers and no one is compensating here. The limitations of the stadium, which despite a huge investment was not designed in a way that allows for its expansion, will require thinking about either a new stadium or a demolition/extensive modification in the Bloomfield style, to allow for an initial stage of 45,000 spectators in a modular stand structure and advance planning for expansion in the future.
Until they have already done something good in this city, it stands drying and deteriorating. Tens of thousands come there every week crammed in huge lines to buy a glass of beer outside the stadium because there is currently only one active business. Instead of opening more and developing and giving immediacy to entrepreneurs and providing an answer to tens of thousands who come anyway to mock tens of thousands who come regardless of football to hang out, the buildings stand empty raising dust, like the whole of this city. Nice cliché!
Much of what is said in the article is not true. I can be interviewed on behalf of Hamel
The stadiums in the world with the same size and playing schedule are no less crowded than the one here that hosts 20-30 big concerts every year during the leagues' breaks.
All the excuses why it doesn't happen are not interesting, you have to do everything to make it happen.
Where to even begin to refer to the stadium's collection of failures. City treasurer Wakim reported to the city council that it would cost NIS 450 million, but in reality it cost NIS 600 million. Due to huge deviations, they gave up on a peripheral external roof like in its twin in the city of Le Haber in France (where a spectacular roof was built). In the simulations, a pedestrian bridge appeared over Route 4, which the court even obliged the municipality to build, and which has not been built to this day. The mess of public transportation to the stadium accompanies it to this day and there are almost no bus lines passing through it, unlike any stadium inside the city in the world.
The 5 magnificent failures of the stadium: 1. A shopping center was built there that was supposed to finance about a third of the amount of its construction, it was supposed to be sold for NIS 150 million. Due to 5 malls in the area, it remains completely empty. 2. It was reported that a huge cinema complex will be built next to the stadium to help finance its construction. To this day, only the foundations remain as an open construction site and nothing has been built there. 3. A sports hotel and an Olympic pool, as a sports complex, were to be built next to it. None of that happened. 4. It was supposed to bring huge shows in the summer months as is customary in many stadiums
And not just for football. In practice, only used for football. It was built with a severe deficiency in the amount of escape hatches described in the article as "the need to separate two stands at every big show". In fact, this shortcoming affects every year the potential revenue of millions of shekels from performances that do not take place at all and the events in it are small and sporadic and constitute marginal income. There are no urban events at all, such as Independence Day celebrations or ceremonies for the same reason. It is interesting that the escape hatches are sufficient for football matches with exactly the same capacity. Amazingly.
5. Perhaps the most serious failure of the stadium is its complete disconnection from the environment. On game days - it is necessary to block off the Naot Peres neighborhood, in fact to imprison its residents with transit permits at the expense of police and bouncers. Normally, there is no commerce, his square is completely deserted and has no contribution or benefit to the city or even to the residents of the neighborhood. Wow, some kind of cafe will be established. We fell off the throne.
Football's takeover of the facility:
This is a municipal facility that was built with all the taxpayers' money, and only football fans enjoy it. Those very few events and tours really cannot compensate the city's residents for the investment that most of them do not enjoy at all. For example, there was a thought to make a sports bar/restaurant on the upper floor that would be open as usual. Nothing seems to be happening. This holy place is blocked from any business initiative and anything other than football games, for a variety of logistical and economic reasons, unlike most similar facilities in the world.
These 5 failures are not addressed at all. For example, it would have been possible to take care of public transportation to the stadium instead of diverting thousands of vehicles to parking lots
All around him who create an additional nuisance on game days. It would be possible to prepare floating stages for performances that do not damage the grass, if not for superstars who require a week of setup, for great local artists who take advantage of the summer months when there are very few games.
The city council is not at all concerned with the stadium or the stadium company - for example, with the question of what is happening in the area of the construction site of the cinema complex that was abandoned during the foundation stage. Why are there no regular bus lines to the stadium? Why is the stadium square not used at all for events and has no shade and no market or fairs or anything. Why the huge shopping mall that was built there remains deserted. And why can't football be balanced with its opening for big, medium, small shows not two weeks a year but the whole summer so it stands deserted for two months.