Arena Center & Air Albania Stadium

About Arena Center & Air Albania Stadium

By the ULTIMATE Tirana Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

The Air Albania Stadium, officially Arena Kombëtare, was built on the site of the old Qemal Stafa Stadium and opened in November 2019 with a match between Albania and France. Designed by Marco Casamonti of Archea Associati, it seats 22,500, the largest in the country, and its faceted shell wraps shops, restaurants and the Arena Center, with a 112-metre tower housing the Tirana Marriott. In May 2022 it hosted the first UEFA Europa Conference League final. Come for a match, or simply for a drink with a view.

A new national stadium

Albania’s national stadium, officially the Arena Kombëtare and known as the Air Albania Stadium for sponsorship reasons, stands on the site of the old Qemal Stafa Stadium, close to Mother Teresa Square. It opened in November 2019 with a match between Albania and France, and seats 22,500, the largest in the country.

The design

It was designed by Marco Casamonti of the Florence studio Archea Associati as a multi-faceted shell, an eight-sided form in which each side gives access to different uses. At one corner rises a 112-metre, 24-storey tower that houses the Tirana Marriott Hotel. The surrounding Arena Center holds shops, restaurants and offices, and the classical columns of the old stadium building were kept.

The old Qemal Stafa Stadium was replaced by a stadium wrapped in shops, with a hotel tower at one corner.

In May 2022 the stadium hosted the first UEFA Europa Conference League final, a proud moment for Albanian football.

Visiting

On match days the area fills with fans in red and black; on other days the restaurants and bars around the stadium, and the Marriott’s rooftop views, are open to everyone.

Our advice: check the Albanian Football Association’s fixtures and try to catch a national team match, with the crowd singing the anthem; otherwise come for a drink with a view of the pitch.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Arena Center & Air Albania Stadium before you go.