Written by Emanuel, Grade 9 as a part of the MYP Journalism Elective, led by Mr. Josefino Rivera
The Slavia stadium is a great place to visit for any football fan around the Czech Republic. The fans, noise, and food are all reasons to go. A stadium is nothing without embedding the culture’s foods into the stadium so that people can get it and the Fortuna Arena does not disappoint.
“The food was good. There was sausage and mayonnaise together the mix was exceptional” said Lukas Schaar.
Compared to other stadiums, the prices at this stadium were more than reasonable. There are all kinds of different foods from different cultures. Whoever wants to watch a club with passion, aggression, and history integrated into it will catch attention at this historic stadium. A team with fire and success is hard to find but at the Fortuna Arena, there is a different feeling that I have never felt before. Depending on the game, the atmosphere can switch, and the magnitude of family friendliness can shift drastically. If it is a derby between Sparta and Slavia I would personally recommend anyone under the age of 16 to not go. This is because when this occurs, there are usually fights that break out and fireworks being lit which can physically and mentally harm anyone under 16.
Getting hands-on tickets can be quite easy but depending on the game. If it is a game that isn’t a derby or a crucial game, finding tickets from 160 CZK to 310 CZK won’t be a problem and it is more than reasonable when considering everything. A season ticket can vary from 4900 CZK to 5500 CZK depending on what level of season ticket and what is included in that specific package.
The culture in the Czech Republic for football is pretty strange. They don’t produce that many talents on the pitch but the passion for football is the best anyone will see. The Czech league is outstanding thanks to the fans. They make everything enjoyable and missing out on this would be a great mistake.
The original stadium was burned down by German troops in 1945. Letná stadium was the original name and the new stadium that they built is called Fortuna Arena due to sponsorships. As their stadium was burnt down, they had to play nearby at the Sparta stadium only a couple meters from their old stadium which got burnt to a crisp. At their old stadium, they won 13 league titles and 3 doubles which made them one of the biggest clubs in the Czech Republic. The new stadium though it might not look very modern, is one of the most modern stadiums in the Czech Republic. They started maintenance on September 15th, 2006 and they eventually finished constructing Fortuna Arena on May 7th, 2008. This whole process ended up costing the club over 1 billion CZK.
Nowadays, the stadium is one of the most modern in the country. It is newly renovated and it is one of the most followed clubs with an intense fan base. You can guarantee an intense atmosphere when going to this modern stadium.
As we all know, prices on tickets can vary quite a lot and usually its overpriced and basic, bland food but I can assure you that the food is delicious, cheap, and fast serving. The lines are short, the service is good and friendly. Lukas also said “I have been to a lot of different stadiums with bigger capacities and overall just a bigger club but none of the clubs that I have been to have treated me as nicely as the staff here. I feel a warm feeling with this club and going to the stadium has formed a sort of connection which I haven’t felt in a long time.”
Adding on to Lukas’s point, there aren’t many stadiums that compare to this one. For the price and availability, this is a jackpot stadium to visit. Finding out about this place feels like a hidden gem yet it is very popular in the country. This needs more attention globally and in a couple of years, I can see this stadium being one of the most iconic the world has ever seen. A hidden trophy shining under a gloomy Prague. The highlight of this country.