Rafic Hariri Stadium

ملعب رفيق الحريري
Al Manara Stadium Nejmeh Stadium
Former names	Al Manara Stadium (1969–2005)
Location	Beirut, Lebanon
Coordinates	33°53′40″N 35°28′10″E / 33.89444°N 35.46944°E / 33.89444; 35.46944
Owner	Nejmeh
Operator	Nejmeh
Capacity	5,000
Surface	Grass
Construction
Opened	1969
Renovated	2000
Construction cost	LBP 2,950
Architect	Tarek Balaa
Tenants
Nejmeh

Rafic Hariri Stadium (Arabic: ملعب رفيق الحريري), also known as Al Manara Stadium (Arabic: ملعب المنارة) or Nejmeh Stadium (Arabic: ملعب نادي النجمه الرياضي), is a multi-use stadium in the Manara district of Beirut, Lebanon. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home for Nejmeh. The stadium has a capacity of 5,000 spectators, as well as a VIP seats area that accommodates around 100 guests, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium.^[1]

History

The Old Stadium

The old club stadium consisted of a sand training field over the land number 704 in Ras Beirut area with no facilities or fences. The club teams used to practice under poor conditions. The former club administrations first built players facilities and administration offices around the stadium in 1969, the wall followed in 1974. The dream came true in the year 2004, and the fans can now enjoy the sight of their team training on a professional field.

Renaming

After the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, Nejmeh club's board of directors decided on February 21, 2005 to call the club stadium "The Martyr Rafic Hariri Stadium" to immortalize his memory.

Present

The Club stadium is under rehabilitation including implanting the field with grass, increasing the seats spaces, and enhancing the stadium facilities, walls and fences. The first phase of the process started in 2003 and was completed in 2004. The stadium field was implanted with natural grass. The second phase including enhancing the club facilities, walls, and fences shall be completed later in 2004.