Astana Arena - Kazakhstan National Team Stadium Guide

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By Football Tripper
Last Updated: July 15, 2021

Exterior of Astana Arena

Astana Arena is a 30,000 capacity arena which opened in 2011 as the national football stadium for Kazakhstan. Designed by Populous and located within the capital city, the stadium is notable for featuring a retractable roof.

Kazakhstan National Team Stadium Guide

Stadium Facts

Overview
Team:Kazakhstan National Team
Opened:2009
Capacity:30,000
Address: Qabanbay Batyr Avenue, Astana

Astana Arena History

Constructed over a two year period between 2007 and 2009, Astana Arena is the largest stadium in Kazakhstan and one of the most modern national stadiums in the world. Designed by Populous who famously lent a hand to Wembley Stadium and The Emirates in England, the stadium features a fully retractable roof.

The inaugural fixture was played on 3rd July 2009 between local side Lokomotiv Astana and the Kazakhstan Under 21 national team.The match was officiated by the Italian referee Pierluigi Collina who is one of the most famous football officials of all time.

To help make the game a little more interested both sides were allowed to call up two “star” players. Kazakhstan Under 21s opted for two former AC Milan players, Kakha Kaladze and Andriy Shevchenko whereas local side Lokomotiv enlisted the services of Turkish Internationals Hasan ?a? and Hakan ?ükür.

Astana Arena’s multi-purpose sporting credentials were confirmed when the venue was used to host the opening ceremony of the Asian Winter Games in January 2011. Hoping to build upon this event, Kazakhstan bid to host matches of Euro 2020 at Astana Arena but city was sadly unsuccessful in its application.

Main entrance of Astana Arena

View of Astana Arena

Astana Arena Seating Plan

Below is a seating plan of Kazakhstan National Team's Astana Arena:

Stadium plan of Astana Arena

Stand Photos

Astana Arena is comprised of four separate stands enclosed by a large retractable roof:

Click the thumbnails above to enlarge an image of each stand and to read a more detailed description of each part of the Stadium.

Matchday Experience

Astana Arena Away Section

When Celtic played Shakhter Karagandy in a Champions League qualifier back in 2013, the 30 or so dedicated supporters who made the trip to Kazakhstan were housed within the south stand with the home fans.

For matches where the travelling contingent is expected to be larger, away fans generally occupy one or two blocks in the south-west corner.

Best Pubs near ground

There are plenty of bars within the city centre to keep you entertained both before and after the match.

Kazakhstan National Team Club Shop

On matchdays there are usually vendors around the stadium selling souvenirs and merchandise.

Can you take a stadium Tour?

It doesn’t appear as the City of Astana currently conduct stadium tours of Astana Arena. If this changes we’ll be sure to update this section.

How to buy Kazakhstan National Team Tickets

For league matches Astana Arena is never often sold out so tickets can generally be purchased at the box office before kick-off in most cases.

When it comes to International matches you should always purchase your tickets in advance through your country’s football association.

How to get to Astana Arena

Where is Astana Arena?

Kazakhstan’s national stadium is located next to Nazarbayev University out of town approximately 9.3 km from Astana’s city centre. Buses and marshrutkas form the backbone of the city’s public transport.


Driving

The stadium’s address for satnav is as follows:

  • Qabanbay Batyr Avenue, Astana, Kazakhstan

Car Parks

There are two reasonably large car parks located east of the stadium which can be accessed from Qabanbay Batyr Avenue.

Train - Public Transport

Kazakthan Railroad infrastructure as a whole is relatively underdeveloped which means that the main station of the city only serves around 7,000 people a day. There are subsequently plans to tentatively construct a light metro system in 2016.

Parking at Astana Arena

Public Transport of Astana Arena

Airports and Flying

Astana International Airport, the second busiest airport in Kazakhtan, is located 17 km south-east of the city centre. Construction is currently underway on a new terminal in anticipation of the growth of passengers traffic by 2017.

Hotels Near Astana Arena

The closest accommodation options to the stadium are Royal Park and Astana Hotel followed by the Seven Inn Boutique. The city centre has three other places worthy of inspection: Comfort Hotel, Tengri Hotel, and Hotel Kazzhol.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who plays at Astana Arena?

Kazakhstani side Kazakhstan National Team play their home matches at Astana Arena.

What is the capacity of Astana Arena?

As of 2024 Astana Arena has an official seating capacity of 30,000 for Football matches.

When was Astana Arena opened?

Astana Arena officially opened in 2009 and is home to Kazakhstan National Team

Are there any Covid restrictions at the stadium?

Covid Restrictions may be in place when you visit Astana Arena in 2024. Please visit the official website of Kazakhstan National Team for full information on changes due to the Coronavirus.

Largest Stadiums in Kazakhstan