The History of the Construction of Sør Arena

The reason for planning a new stadium was reactions and demands from the Football Association regarding the “old” Kristiansand Stadium from 1948.

Background and Decision

The new stadium that was built would become the home ground for the football club IK Start and be located in Torsvika, Kristiansand. The decision to build a new stadium was made in 2005, when Kristiansand municipality approved plans for a new stadium facility. Initially, it was planned as a municipal stadium with a capacity of approximately 10,000 spectators and a cost of around 180 million NOK. However, it was later decided that the stadium would be built privately by Start Stadion AS, led by Erik Solér and Ernst Ravnaas, with an expanded capacity of 14,500 spectators and a cost of approximately 230 million NOK.

Financing and Naming Rights

The stadium’s financing came from several sources: Kristiansand municipality contributed with a free plot of land and a loan of 40 million NOK, the municipal cultural foundation Cultiva provided a grant of 10 million NOK, and Sparebanken Sør purchased the naming rights for 35 million NOK over a ten-year period. The first name chosen was Sør Arena. In addition, commercial property adjacent to the stadium was sold to help finance construction.

Construction and Opening

Construction of the arena began on January 11, 2006, and it was officially opened on April 15, 2007, with a match between IK Start and Viking FK, which ended 1–1. The stadium was designed by architect Kjell Kosberg, known for designing Aker Stadion in Molde. The total project cost ended up at around 400 million NOK, significantly above the original budget, mainly due to expanded capacity and standards, as well as increased construction costs.

Operational Challenges and Ownership Changes

After the opening, the arena experienced several challenges, including problems with the pitch and financial difficulties. In 2008, Sparebanken Sør took ownership of the stadium after Start Stadion AS was unable to service its debt. In 2009, both the stadium and the club were sold to Ernst Ravnaas for one Norwegian krone each. Despite these changes, financial challenges continued, and in 2013 Start Stadion AS went bankrupt after losing a VAT lawsuit related to the naming rights.

Municipal Ownership and Continued Operation

After the 2013 bankruptcy, Kristiansand municipality purchased Sparebanken Sør’s claim on the stadium for 44 million NOK, thus becoming the owner of the facility. Since then, IK Start has paid rent to the municipality for the use of the stadium. In 2012, it was decided to replace the natural grass with artificial turf to reduce maintenance costs and increase the stadium’s use for grassroots sports.

Technological Improvements

To enable year-round use of the arena, underfloor heating supplied by district heating from Agder Energi was installed. This measure has allowed both professional and amateur sports to use the pitch throughout the year.

Conclusion

Sparebanken Sør Arena has been a central part of Kristiansand’s football environment since its opening in 2007. Despite financial challenges and changes in ownership, the facility continues to be an important arena for both professional and amateur football in the region.