More
data: Prosfyghika Stadium takes its name from the district in
which it is built. A free translation would be "Area of the
Refugees". Following the Asia Minor Disaster of 1922, refugees
settled in this part of Patras. Athletes of the club Apollon Smyrnis
(now "Izmir") founded new clubs in their new homeland.
In Athens they created Apollon Athens, while in Patras it was Olympiakos
Patras. They created the new football ground, which was initially
named after the club.
Prosfyghika would go on to become the "football heart"
of Patras for the next 50 years. In 1947 it took the form it had
until a few years ago, with standing terraces all around the pitch.
It was used by almost all the clubs in the city, namely Olympiakos
Patras, Thyella, Patraikos, Apollon Patras and Aris Patras. These
were all disbanded by the military junta (1967-1974) to create a
more "right-wing" club, APS Patrai, which also played
in Prosfyghika.
The ground nearly became a housing estate in 1984, but it was bought
and "rescued" by the Greek State. It was clear, however,
that Prosfyghika was a relic of the past and could not serve its
purpose any more. It took some more years, but in 1998 it was decided
that the stadium would be reformed.
Works were completed in 2000 and essentially created a new football
ground. They included a new pitch, lighting on four pillars, two
light metal stands with
plastic seats that run along the length of the pitch, service areas,
offices etc.
