Rudolf Illovszky Stadium

The stadium where the history of Fáy Street lives on

There are some stadiums whose names mean much more than just a sports facility. Fáy Street is one such place in Hungarian soccer. The Rudolf Illovszky Stadium-or, as most people still call it today, the Vasas Stadium-is both a modern soccer arena and a memorial built into the club’s identity. It is a stadium that did not seek to break with the past, but rather to continue it in a new form.

Located in Budapest’s 13th district, the arena was built on the site of the old Fáy Street stadium between 2016 and 2019, and today it is one of the strongest symbols of the Vasas Sport Club. Although it is much more compact in size than the largest domestic stadiums, this is precisely what gives it its unique atmosphere. The steep stands close to the field, the fully enclosed grandstand system, and the design without a running track create an almost classic English stadium atmosphere.

The stadium that became the heir to a legendary venue

The story began with the original stadium on Fáy Street, which opened its doors in 1961 and was later named after the legendary coach Rudolf Illovszky.

For decades, the old stadium was the home of Vasas football club. The club’s greatest successes, memorable matches, and fan stories spanning generations were all tied to this place. The stadium reached its peak attendance in 1972, when 30,000 spectators packed the stands for a Vasas-Diósgyőr match.

Over the years, however, the building became outdated, making reconstruction inevitable by the 2010s. Construction of the new stadium began in 2017, with the project carried out by a consortium of Market Építő Zrt. and KÉSZ Építő Zrt. The goal was not to create a monumental stadium, but to build a deliberately compact arena close to the fans that would carry on the character of Fáy Street.

A modern, English-style stadium

The new Illovszky Stadium is a fully enclosed soccer arena with no running track. The stands are positioned directly alongside the field, allowing spectators to feel as though they are part of the action. The central element of the stadium is the four-story main grandstand on the west side, which, as a main building spanning nearly 7,000 square meters, houses the VIP sections, skyboxes, press areas, locker rooms, and service areas.

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The stadium’s structural design is defined by reinforced concrete stands and steel roof structures, while the field features state-of-the-art hybrid turf with an automatic irrigation system, a modern drainage system, and built-in field heating.

The stadium that showcases the club’s history

One of the most unique features of Illovszky Stadium is that nearly every detail of the building reflects Vasas’s identity. The red-and-blue club colors appear not only on the seats, but also in the facade elements, interior walls, and graphic designs. The stadium’s 16 sections are named after legendary Vasas players, while large steel panels, photos chronicling the club’s history, and visual installations in the interior spaces evoke the club’s past.

One of the most well-known spaces is the so-called “From Father to Son” promenade, which represents the club loyalty passed down through generations. Another iconic element is Gyuri Veres’s legendary fan scarf, which has been given a place in the arena as a specially displayed relic.

The Illovszky Stadium has thus become not only a sports facility but also a kind of club museum and identity space—a place where Vasas’s past and present coexist.

Source of images: KÉSZ Group