"Metalist Stadium" in Kharkiv celebrates its 100th anniversary: memories of employees and plans for the future
The Kharkiv stadium "Metalist" turns 100 - it opened on September 12, 1926. The last football match was played there in November 2021, and since the start of the full-scale war, the Russians have shelled near the stadium four times, but the arena itself has not been damaged, said Vitaliy Lepsheyev, the deputy general director of the stadium, to Suspilne.
Read about the current state of the arena and whether its centenary will be celebrated in the material by Suspilne Kharkiv.
A Fan's Memories
During Ukraine's independence, the "Metalist" stadium managed to become the home arena for four professional football clubs, host hundreds of matches and major international competitions, including the 2012 European Football Championship.
A fan of Kharkiv's "Metalist," Oleksandr Honcharenko, visited his club's stadium for the first time in five years. He says he has been supporting the Kharkiv team for over 40 years.
"It was a game in the summer of 1982 when I was 11 years old. I went with my friend, a neighbor of the same age as me, and his uncle. It was a game of 'Metalist' in the Soviet league against Baku's 'Neftchi.' I remember sitting on the east stand. We won, 'Metalist' won this match 2:1. The feelings were incredible. At that time, 'Metalist' had just moved up to the Premier League from the First Soviet League, and in the first round, it was in third place. After this victory, it moved up to second place," says Honcharenko.
"I've been to many stadiums, been to Meteor in Dnipro, been to Slavutych Arena in Zaporizhzhia, and Butovsky in Poltava. There are dedicated fans there too, but the atmosphere in the soul, like in Kharkiv, at Metalist, is not and has never been," he adds.
"The feelings are incredible. I see the stadium... It is well maintained, and the grass and field are no worse than at other stadiums we see on TV. Everything is in order with the stadium."
From a Factory Team Stadium to Euro 2012 Matches
The stadium was built in 1926 for a football club created on the basis of the Malyshev Machine-Building Plant, says the general director Vyacheslav Shevchenko.
"Initially, in 1925, the football club 'Metalist' was founded, and then, I understand that the construction of the 'Metalist' stadium was organized. It was under construction for a long time, and the decision was made by someone Mikoyan. There was such a person. It all belonged to the Malyshev Plant. The Malyshev Plant sponsored, provided money, helped build," Shevchenko explains.
He says the current look of the arena was achieved during the reconstruction for the 2012 European Football Championship, when the stadium's capacity increased from 23 to 40 thousand spectators.
"The most important, I believe, is the period from 2007 to 2012, the preparation for Euro 2012. In total, I think 700 million was spent on the stadium. A new roof was built - well, it's called a covering, facade, the field was built to new standards - an English company was involved, sound, lighting," says the arena's director.
"Initially, we were just a backup stadium, just in case. Then, when Oleksandr Yaroslavsky started to help a lot, calling investors here. When we already received the main passport that we were the main city for Euro 2012, then the state, the city council, and the regional council started investing money here and making sure our stadium could meet the level of Euro 2012," says Vitaliy Lepsheyev.
"Probably, That's My Whole Life"
During the stadium's reconstruction, work was carried out even during matches, footballer Oleksandr Horiainov recalls.
"That's probably my whole life. Because on this stadium, you could say, I grew up. Even when I was little, before I got into football. But there used to be a spare field here, where they flooded the ice rink in winter. I remember everything. We watched the footballers here. This is mine, native," says the footballer.
"I feel some hope that soon sports life will return to this beautiful stadium. From the outside, everything seems fine, but, of course, everyone wants to go inside the bowl and feel the atmosphere of a football holiday," he adds.
The "Metalist" Stadium During the Full-Scale War
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, most of the stadium's staff have left Kharkiv, says deputy general director Vitaliy Lepsheyev. He says he personally took care of the stadium for about half a year.
"Our last football match ended in November 2021. We were preparing, we had a football match scheduled - and we sold almost all the tickets - for February 25, but... What happened, happened: on February 24, the enemy attacked us, all matches were canceled," Lepsheyev says.
Many people, of course, left, many people scattered to different cities and countries. And, believe it or not, I was the only one left. Yes, out of 300 people, only I remained. Was I scared? Yes, I was scared. But I had to go, close everything, turn off the lights.
"I couldn't abandon the enterprise because I've been working here for a long time. This is my soul, my brainchild, and I couldn't abandon it. And slowly, in September, when people started to return back in September 2022, I slowly started preparing for the autumn-winter period. Of course, the lawn needed care. The football club 'Metalist' helped us a lot. And even now, they help us as much as they can," says the deputy general director.
According to him, during the invasion, the Russians hit the stadium at least four times.
"The last time it hit the eastern stand, it hit well. Not directly at the stand, but at the support that holds the roof. It's strong, but it hit it, tore that pipe. Luckily, the shockwave and debris flew over the roof," says Vitaliy Lepsheyev.
Ready to Host Matches
Vitaliy Lepsheyev says that as of September 2026, there are 30 employees left at the stadium who maintain the arena.
"I came here when I was young, and I still work here. Yes, I just miss how it used to be. And it's awkward for me alone to celebrate it. If there hadn't been a war, probably all the employees we had during the Euros would still be here, we would have organized some big sports events. Then it could have been a celebration. And today - thank God, there are no bombings, and that's good," says Lepsheyev.
We probably, if a decision is made tomorrow that we can play football here, then in three days the stadium will be ready to host all football matches that are possible. The stadium itself, the pitch, the football field, the changing rooms, VIP stands, and guest reception - everything is ready here
"It's sad. Especially in winter: here I am walking, evening, it gets dark earlier. The soul is torn. It's torn, crying, because I remember how it used to be, how there was laughter, shouts, sadness, some kind of hustle and bustle. And now you go out, look - and of course, it tears the soul. Of course, it tears," shares Vitaliy Lepsheyev.
According to the general director Shevchenko, after the end of the war, the stadium expects the return of clubs for which it was a home arena - these are the football clubs "Kharkiv" and "Metalist".
"I am convinced 100% that if the war ends and the first match at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv takes place, it will be tough here with our support. It will be tough for any opponent, for any giants of our football, it will be very difficult here for them with our fans," says fan Oleksandr Honcharenko.
