World Stadiums: Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czechia
Fortuna Arena is the home stadium of Slavia Prague and an occasional home venue for the Czech Republic's national team.
The ground has a capacity of 19,370. It is thus the largest stadium in the Czech Republic ahead of the Stadion Evžena Rošického (19,032), which is often the venue for the Czech Cup Final and Letná Stadium (18,944), home of Sparta Prague. From 2010-2012 it also hosted Bohemians 1905 games as their own stadium, Dolicek, did not meet top-tier league and technical requirements at the time.
Previous names of the venue have included Stadion Eden (2008), Synot Tip Arena (2009-2012), Eden Arena (2012-2018) and Sinobo Stadium (2018-2022).
Stands & Pitch
The stadium features four stands. The pitch size is the standard 105 x 68 meters, featuring a natural grass surface and floodlights in the roofs of the stands.
History
The history of the Fortuna Arena spans decades of transformation from an original concrete-and-wood terrace into the most modern football ground in the Czech Republic.
Slavia moved to the area after being forced to leave its previous home in the more central Letná district. The original Stadion Eden opened in September 1953 and could accommodate between 38,000 and 50,000 spectators, mainly on standing terraces. Its distinctive western stand was made of wood and had originally been dismantled from Slavia's previous stadium before being rebuilt at Eden.
Over the following decades, the stadium gradually fell into serious disrepair. By the late 1990s, the wooden stands were no longer suitable, and Slavia was forced to play its home matches at the Strahov athletics stadium while plans for a new arena were developed. The old Stadion Eden was eventually demolished between 2003 and 2004. After several financial delays, construction of a completely new stadium began in October 2006.
The new arena officially opened on May 7, 2008, with an exhibition match between Slavia Legends and Oxford University AFC. The choice of opponent was symbolic, as Oxford had been Slavia's first international opponent back in 1899. Just ten days later, Slavia played its first competitive match at the new stadium, drawing 2-2 with Jablonec. The result secured the Czech First League title, leading to huge celebrations in front of a sold-out crowd.
Since its opening, the stadium has become one of the Czech Republic's most important football venues. It has operated under several sponsored names, including Synot Tip Arena (2009-2012), Eden Arena (2012-2018), and Sinobo Stadium (2018-2022), before becoming Fortuna Arena in 2022. The stadium has also hosted major European matches, including the 2013 UEFA Super Cup, where Bayern Munich defeated Chelsea on penalties, and the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League Final, in which West Ham United beat Fiorentina 2-1.
Capacity & Tours
The capacity of Fortuna Arena is now 19,370 for football matches.
Visitors can tour Fortuna Arena in Prague as part of an experience that combines a behind-the-scenes stadium tour with a visit to the Slavia Museum. The tour is self-guided, allowing visitors to explore the stadium at their own pace while discovering the history and traditions of SK Slavia Praha. The tour provides access to several areas normally reserved for players and staff, including the players' benches and press conference rooms. Visitors can also enjoy views of the pitch from the top floor and explore the Slavia Museum, which is considered the largest football museum in the Czech Republic.
The experience takes approximately 50-60 minutes. Tours and the museum are generally open on Saturdays and Sundays, with additional Friday openings during June, July, and August. Opening times can change, and the tour may be unavailable when Slavia Prague has a home match or when major events are taking place at the stadium.
For the latest opening times, availability, and ticket information, visitors should check the official SK Slavia Praha Stadium Tour & Museum page before planning their visit: www.slavia.cz/eng/stadium-tour-museum
Slavia Prague
Slavia Prague, nicknamed 'Červenobílí' (The Red and Whites'), are a successful club in the Czech Republic with 22 league titles, 11 Czech cups, and the Mitropa Cup back in 1938.
The club has enjoyed a long and successful history in European competition. The club reached the UEFA Cup in the 1995-96 season before making history in 2007-08 by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time. More than a decade later, Slavia enjoyed another remarkable European campaign, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2018-19 UEFA Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League group stage for the second time in the club's history in 2019-20.
Slavia continued to establish itself as a force in European football, reaching the Europa League quarter-finals again in the 2020-21 season. That campaign also coincided with a remarkable domestic achievement. Slavia won the 2020-21 Czech First League title without losing a single match throughout the entire season. During the 2020-21 period, the club also set a Czech record for the longest unbeaten run in top-flight league football, going 54 consecutive matches without defeat.
They contest the Prague derby with city rivals Sparta.
Some famous ex-Slavia players include such legends as Josef "Pepi" Bican is widely regarded as one of the most prolific goalscorers in football history. He enjoyed a highly successful spell with Slavia during the 1930s and 1940s and became one of the club's greatest-ever goalscorers.
František Plánička was a legendary goalkeeper and captain of the Czechoslovak national team. He represented his country at the 1934 and 1938 FIFA World Cups and is remembered as one of the outstanding goalkeepers of his generation.
Antonín Puč was another prominent Slavia forward and prolific goalscorer. He represented Czechoslovakia at the 1934 World Cup and scored in the final against Italy, cementing his place among the country's most celebrated footballers.
More recently Vladimír Šmicer began his professional career at Slavia before going on to enjoy success abroad. He became a Champions League winner with Liverpool, scoring in the club's memorable 2005 final victory over AC Milan.
Karel Poborský was an elegant and technically gifted winger whose performances for Slavia and the Czech national team earned him international recognition. He was one of the standout players at UEFA Euro 1996 and later played for both Manchester United and Benfica. Poborský also had a spell with rivals Sparta later in his career.
Patrik Berger established himself at Slavia before moving abroad and building a successful career in Germany and England. He became particularly well known for his time with Borussia Dortmund and at Anfield with Liverpool, where his powerful shooting and midfield creativity made him a prominent Premier League player.
More recently, midfielder Tomáš Souček and right back Vladimír Coufal became fan favourites during Slavia's successful domestic period. Both players played key roles in the club's rise to prominence before moving to West Ham United in the English Premier League. Coufal is now with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
Uses
As well as football, Fortuna Arena has developed into a major entertainment venue. It hosts matches involving the Czech national team as well as large-scale concerts and stadium tours by internationally renowned artists such as Coldplay, Depeche Mode, and Bruce Springsteen. Indeed, the stadium is one of the most prominent sporting and entertainment venues in the Czech Republic.
Access - Getting To Fortuna Arena
Fortuna Arena is situated in Vršovice, southeast of the center of Prague.
Train: Get off at the Nádraží Eden station right at the ground. Take lines S9 or R49 from the Prague Main Station.
Tram: take local trams 6, 7, 19, or 22.
Parking: There is limited parking around the stadium, so it's recommended to use public transport.
Metro & Bus: Metro Line A (Green Line): Get off at the Želivského or Flora stations. From Želivského, take bus 150 or 213. From Flora, take bus 136. The bus ride to the Slavia - Nádraží Eden stop takes roughly 5 minutes. Alternately, bus line 135 connects the stadium to the central Náměstí Míru metro hub.
Accessibility
The ground offers barrier-free access, 36 designated wheelchair spaces, and companion seating near main entrances. Fortuna Arena provides designated viewing areas for wheelchair users and their companions. These spaces are located opposite Entrances 1, 2, 4, and 3, with one of the sections specifically accommodating visiting supporters.
The stadium offers barrier-free access and flat, step-free routes to the designated viewing platforms, making it easier for wheelchair users to move around the venue. Accessible toilets are located close to the wheelchair viewing areas and can be opened using a Eurokey.
Additional services are available to make matchday more convenient. Visitors can request a parking reservation directly at the stadium, while food and refreshments can be ordered and delivered directly to the wheelchair viewing platforms.
Address: U Slavie 1540/2a, 100 00 Prague 10-Vršovice, Czech Republic
Nearby Hotels
See here for a complete accommodation list of available hotels in Prague in the Czech Republic. The Mama Shelter Praha is one recommendation.
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