Romania’s flagship stadium awaits last event as it is to be replaced with a National Arena

The Romania – Albania football match scheduled for Wednesday evening is the last event hosted by the National Stadium Lia Manoliu, one of Romania’s best known sports edifices which has been the preferred site for major international matches, historical music gigs such as Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode or Michael Jackson, but also for the Communist-era mass events celebrating dictator Ceausescu.

The arena will be demolished and replaced by another one that comes in line with the UEFA requirements.

The new stadium, namerd National Arena, will have a capacity of 55,000 places and it is due to open by 2010. It will cost 120 million euro, to be provided by government and Bucharest City Hall.