Stadion Evžena Rošického is a multi-purpose stadium in the Strahov area of Prague on Petřín hill, having been built in 1935. The stadium was named after the Czech athlete Evžen Rošický, who was in an anti Nazi resistance group with his father. Both were executed by the Nazis.
The stadium, with a capacity in 2010 of 19,032, served as the temporary home to Slavia Prague for eight years from 2000, whilst their Eden home ground was rebuilt and to FK Bohemians Praha (Střížkov) from 2008. Prague Championship club AC Sparta Krc used the stadium for the 2007-08 season.
In 1978, the stadium had been the venue of the European Athletics Championships, also staging the major national meeting of the year until Stadion Julisca was refurbished in 2002.
Stadion Evžena Rošického became the neutral venue for the final of the Pohár FAČR, the Czech FA Cup, from 1994, when Viktoria Žižkov defeated AC Sparta Praha on penalties, until 2004, when Sparta defeated Baník Ostrava.
After a couple of seasons away, the final returned to the stadium in 2007 for Sparta’s victory against FK Jablonec 97. Sparta also won the next two finals at Stadion Evžena Rošického before the final was spread around venues around the country.
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| My drawing of Stadion Evžena Rošického from 1999, home to Slavia at the time, along with some of their playing kits Click on the image for an enlarged version. |
FK Olympia Praha moved into the stadium for the 2017-18 season so that they could play in the second-tier FNL, before chairman Angelos Goulis announced that the club would take a voluntary demotion. Olympia moved to the Radotín district of the capital and changed their name to Olympia Radotín, thus leaving Stadion Evžena Rošického without a club tenant once again.
FK Slavoj Vyšehrad reached the FNL, the second tier of Czech football and moved their home matches from Stadion Slavoj Vyšehrad to take up residence at Stadion Evžena Rošického in Strahov from the start of 2019 to satisfy the ground grading stipulations.
In December 2022, the stadium was closed due to serious defects in its steel structure. According to the Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR), the stadium was no longer safe to use and its repair would be a large-scale investment, which the FAČR was unable to secure at the time.
My visits
Saturday 20th October 2000
I was travelling around Europe by train for three weeks on an InterRail ticket, taking in as many major cities and sightseeing as possible, which of course included visiting football clubs and stadiums. My train arrived at daybreak in Prague after a fairly uncomfortable journey from Budapest.
I had been moved from my slumber by a guard who told me I was sitting in a first-class compartment, although the condition and facilities did a decent job of disguising the fact. I moved to another carriage and indeed another world, as what can only be described as peasants got on and off, seemingly taking their life processions with them.
On arrival in Prague, a tout approached me, promising he’d sort out some digs for the night. I had read about this in my travel guide, so I went along with it. After a thankfully aborted attempt at an untidy family house, I ended up in a hostel with dormitories. After leaving my luggage and going out to discover the city, as the others were all getting up in my accommodation.
I had worked out that Sparta Prague were playing at home that evening, so I would do my sightseeing by day before having a nap and then going to the game. I did all the usual sights: Wenceslas Square, the old town and Charles Bridge before taking a tram once across the Vltava River and finding my way up the hill to Strahov. The plateau on top of the hill had a monastery, an observatory and a TV tower.
Walking back down through the gardens to the square, I found a tram back to Charles Bridge. I had a good wander about the very pretty city centre. Unfortunately, I had no information as to the other clubs; otherwise, I’d have ventured further, especially as I found out my hostel was within walking distance of the original Bohemians' home. At least it left a good excuse for a return visit!
Monday 14th March 2016
It was the last full day of a very pleasant football, sightseeing and socialising long weekend in the Czech capital and a stunning afternoon to boot when I headed back up Strahov hill. My destination was the Velký Strahovský Stadion for the Czech Republic Juniorská liga match between the under-21 sides of Sparta Praha and Baník Ostrava.
I had a wander around and first of all tried to enter one of the biggest arenas in the world. The Strahov Stadium, in its prime, held displays of synchronised gymnastics and displays during the country’s communist era. It held up to 220,000 people, and the sports area was the size of nine football pitches.
It was also used occasionally for motor racing. Since 1990, it had been used for concerts and as a training centre for Sparta Prague. I walked all the way round but couldn’t find an open gate. The stands were on all four sides. I then walked across the road to the Stadion Evžena Rošického, which was home to Slavia Prague at the time.
It was also used occasionally for motor racing. Since 1990, it had been used for concerts and as a training centre for Sparta Prague. I walked all the way round but couldn’t find an open gate. The stands were on all four sides. I then walked across the road to the Stadion Evžena Rošického, which was home to Slavia Prague at the time.
I found an open gate and found myself in the lower section of terracing below the covered seats, curving around the athletics track. The far end was a mirror image. Both sides had single-tiered covered seated stands. It seemed a decent ground.
Walking back down through the gardens to the square, I found a tram back to Charles Bridge. I had a good wander about the very pretty city centre. Unfortunately, I had no information as to the other clubs; otherwise, I’d have ventured further, especially as I found out my hostel was within walking distance of the original Bohemians' home. At least it left a good excuse for a return visit!
Monday 14th March 2016
It was the last full day of a very pleasant football, sightseeing and socialising long weekend in the Czech capital and a stunning afternoon to boot when I headed back up Strahov hill. My destination was the Velký Strahovský Stadion for the Czech Republic Juniorská liga match between the under-21 sides of Sparta Praha and Baník Ostrava.
Before the match, it was time for a return next door to Stadion Evžena Rošického. Initially, I thought that I would be limited to views through a gap down one side, but then I returned to the same place I'd gained access fourteen years previously. Fortunately enough, the same gate was open, so I entered and took more extensive shots than my last time in my pre-digital camera days.
Once done, I walked round to the Sparta offices to enjoy a coffee before the juniors put on their free entertainment.