Bozsik Jozsef Stadion

The Bozsik Jozsef Stadion was a multi-use UEFA category 4 stadium in Budapest, Hungary. The old stadium was demolished completely in 2019. It was used for football matches and was the home stadium of Budapest Honved FC. The stadium had a capacity of 8,760 spectators.

History

Near the present day stadium (at the site of the cemetery) the first own football ground of the club was built. Supporters gave KAC an estate for thar purpose at the end of Sarkany (Dragon) Street. A fundraiser was initiated among local craftsmen and tradesmen and it was Ferenc Polacsek (hotel owner) and Ferenc Herbacsek (wood trader) who gave major financial contributions to build the sports complex. The inauguration of the Sarkany Street complex was in 1913, hence the name Dragon's Cave - given later by the visiting teams.

On 18 November 1926, Kispest city voted to give 500 million Hungarian korona to modernize the Sarkany Street football grounds. In 1935 the wooden stands and the buildings burned down. Jozsef Molnar, the chairman, averted a crisis and built a bigger and more modern stadium. The new Kispest AC sports complex was inaugurated on 2 January 1938. The new arena is situated at the tram no. 42 terminal and it had a capacity of 8.000 (5.000 seats and 3.000 stands). A bath house was also established in the same site, but it is now closed.

On 12 February 1939 a new football stadium was inaugurated with a capacity of 15.000.

In 1945, right after the war, the people of Kispest started reconstruction works: the grass was regrown and the concrete roofs was mended. Training grounds were built in the area, reaching as far as the cemetery.

In 1955, the complex was rebuilt and extended; the team had to play all of its matches away.

On 20 May 1967, the lights were inaugurated with a friendly match against Szombathelyi Haladas.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Йожеф Божик Стадион (russian)