MCH Arena
The MCH Arena is an association football stadium situated in the south of Herning, Denmark, that is part of MCH Messecenter Herning complex and owned by MCH Group A/S. It has been the home ground of FC Midtjylland since March 2004. An integrated part of the arena is a main building housing the club's administration and offices for the official fan club (named Black Wolves), and includes player and referee facilities, a restaurant, a VIP lounge, press and sky boxes, and a club shop (named Ulveshoppen). The total capacity during domestic matches is 11,432 spectators with 7,070 seatings (western and eastern grand stands and partly north stand) making it the 9th largest football stadium in Denmark. At international FIFA and UEFA matches, the capacity of the four covered single-tiered stands is reduced to 9,430, when the terraces at the north and south stands are converted to an all-seater mode. The stadium's current attendance record of 11,763 spectators dates back to a 2007–08 Danish Superliga match on 11 November 2007, when FC Midtjylland drew 2–2 against FC Copenhagen.
Logo of MCH Arena since spring of 2016 | |
View of the stadium before a match in July 2015 | |
| Full name | MCH Arena |
|---|---|
| Former names | Stadion ved Messecenter Herning (2003–2004) SAS Arena (2004–2009) MCH Arena (2009–present) Herning Stadion (2011) |
| Location | Kaj Zartows Vej 5 7400 Herning |
| Coordinates | 56°07′01″N 8°57′06″E |
| Owner | MCH Group A/S |
| Capacity | 11,432 (7,070 seated)(from 2024: 12152) |
| Record attendance | 11,763 (FC Midtjylland vs FC Copenhagen, 11 November 2007) |
| Field size | 104 by 65 metres (113.7 yd × 71.1 yd) |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2 April 2003 |
| Built | 2003–2004 |
| Opened | 27 March 2004 |
| Renovated | ~2008 |
| Construction cost | DKK 80–85 million (2003–2004) |
| Architect | Kobra Arkitekter A/S |
| Tenants | |
| FC Midtjylland (2004–present) | |
During the construction period and the first couple of months after the official opening on 27 March 2004, it was called Stadion ved Messecenter Herning (or Messecenter Herning Stadion). On 5 August 2004, it was announced that Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) had acquired the naming rights of the stadium in a sponsorship arrangement, and the stadium was officially known as SAS Arena until 30 June 2009 — the first sponsorship of its kind in Denmark. The current name, MCH Arena, was introduced on 1 July 2009. It was one of four venues for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, staging three matches in Group B and a semi-final. During the competition, the stadium was known as Herning Stadion. Apart from hosting several European Cup matches, the stadium has also staged four friendlies for the Denmark national team. The 2013 European Dressage Championship was held in Herning with the stadium being one of the locations.