An iconic football stadium was left heavily damaged after a huge fire ripped through the arena last week. St Jakob-Park, the home ground of Swiss club Basel, was ravaged by the blaze on Friday. The stadium hosted last year’s Women’s Euros final, where the Lionesses prevailed on penalties against Spain to secure back-to-back titles.
Images published by Basel show the charred walls of the home dressing room, with several other areas of the stadium also blackened by the fire. A rack of football boots was shown covered in a thick layer of debris and physio beds had been stripped of their materials down to the frames. In some cases, the extent of the damage made it hard to tell which areas of the stadium had been pictured.
The worst affected areas included both dressing rooms, coaches’ offices, the manager’s office, the physiotherapy area, equipment storage, the wellness area, showers and the recovery zone.
In a statement, Basel said: “Initial assessments by fire specialists and insurers indicate a total loss. This is despite the fact that, according to current information, the fire was largely confined to the sauna area and directly adjacent items.
“For example, the FCB changing room shows no direct fire damage, but significant and irreparable damage from partially toxic soot. Similar damage patterns are evident throughout [the affected areas].”
Other areas of the stadium, including the mixed zone, the away team’s dressing room, the referees’ dressing room, the doping control rooms and the laundry room, were left covered in a thick layer of soot and debris.
“There is hope that at least parts of this area can be saved,” the statement added. “More detailed information is expected in the coming days and weeks.
“The fact that a complete destruction of the entire catacomb section was prevented is thanks in particular to the fire alarm system, the functioning fire doors and ventilation flaps, as well as the quick response of the alerted emergency services.”
Basel still have several matches left to play until the end of the season, creating a problem for organisers when it comes to the damaged facilities.
“[The club’s] top priority is now ensuring that matches can be played for the remaining three home games of the current season,” they said.
“However, it must currently be assumed that the entire catacomb structure will not be operational again before the end of the season.
“The club is working intensively to evaluate suitable alternative solutions and has already identified some potential temporary solutions.”