AFL Delivers Recommendations for the Future of Iceland’s National Stadium

Initial layouts were drawn up with full consideration of the numerous environmental and geotechnical challenges in the region. These options were subsequently analysed against demographic and attendance figures and costed with due regard to P&L projections.

The final recommendation, when all factors were considered, is a new stadium of fifteen thousand people with an openable roof. This proposal has been taken forward by the client for a final decision to be made by the Icelandic government, KSÍ, and the City of Reykjavík.

The team is a consortium of AFL / IPW… / Core Five / Hilson Moran and Ramboll. Local representation included Mannverk, Mannvit and Arkis, who have provided valuable geotechnical, climate and cultural advice to the project.

Laugardalsvöllur, currently at 9,800 capacity, was built in 1957 and has been renovated in several phases since. It is the second smallest capacity of any national stadium for any European country currently ranked in the FIFA World Top 100 teams and is not fully compliant with UEFA Category 4 requirements. It has therefore required exemptions and special preparations to host competitive matches in international tournaments.

Iceland’s men’s team reached a peak world ranking of 18 and are currently ranked 39^th, while 10 years ago they were outside the top 130 teams in the world. The women’s national team is currently ranked 19th in the world by FIFA. The delivery of this OBC is therefore hoped to be the first step towards realising a venue that best reflects the country’s growing accomplishments.