World Stadiums: Stadion Juliska, Prague, Czechia
Stadion Juliska is the home stadium of Dukla Prague in the Dejvice district of the Czech capital.
Other stadiums in Prague include the Letná Stadium (18,944 capacity), home of Sparta Prague and the Fortuna Arena (19,370 capacity), home of rivals Slavia. Dolicek Stadium is the home stadium of Bohemians.
History
The history of the Stadion Juliska begins with its completion in 1960. There were then renovations to the ground in 2001 (when the running track was added) and again a decade later in 2011.
The original Dukla left the ground in 1997 after 49 years in the capital. After the 'Velvet Divorce' and creation of the Czech Republic in 1993, the club merged with second division side FC Portál Příbram in 1996.
The new club, which later became known as 1. FK Příbram, played a single season in Prague at Juliska before moving to Příbram in 1997, the last home match at Juliska was a 2-2 draw with relegated Baník Havířov in June 1997.
The new Dukla Prague began when Dukla Dejvice, a Prague-based football club founded in 1959, adopted the traditional yellow and red colours of Dukla Prague and began playing at Juliska.
The club joined the Prague Championship in 2001. In November 2006, the management of Dukla Prague announced an agreement to acquire the second-division rights of Jakubčovice.
This move paved the way for the new Dukla's return to the Czech top flight in 2011.
Capacity & Tours
The capacity of Stadion Juliska is now 8,150 for football matches.
The stadium features four stands. The pitch size is the standard 105 x 68 meters surrounded by a running track and features a natural grass surface and pylon-style floodlights in the four corners.
There are no regular, daily stadium tours available.
Dukla Prague
Dukla Prague was founded in 1948 as ATK Praha (Army Physical Education Club) and initially represented the Czechoslovak armed forces. In 1953, the club was renamed UDA Praha before adopting the name Dukla Prague in 1956, in honour of the soldiers who died during the World War II Battle of the Dukla Pass between Soviet Red Army and Czechoslovak army units and German/Hungarian defenders. Rather than having a traditional nickname, the club was closely identified with its military roots and its status as the dominant state-backed army side during the Communist era.
The club won 11 league titles beginning in 1953 before going through financial difficulties caused by the fall of Communism and the withdrawal of state military funding. The club flourished during the Communist era thanks to extensive state support and a steady supply of players through mandatory military service.
Its close association with the army also meant that Dukla lacked the large, traditional local fan base enjoyed by civilian clubs such as Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague, making it difficult to remain financially competitive through ticket sales and commercial income alone. Without its former advantages, the club experienced a sharp decline on the field, eventually falling from the top flight into the lower divisions. In 1996, the struggling club merged with FC Portál Příbram, ultimately leaving Prague.
As a side note, Half Man Half Biscuit, the British alternative/comedy rock band from Birkenhead, wrote a song called All I Want for Christmas Is a Dukla Prague Away Kit in 1986. It appeared as a B-side to their single The Trumpton Riots and later on their Back in the DHSS releases. The song helped create a cult following for Dukla Prague among Half Man Half Biscuit fans in Britain. Some fans became interested in the actual club and its shirts despite having no obvious connection to Prague or Czechoslovak football.
Uses
As well as football, Stadion Juliska hosts regular track and field athletics events including the annual Josef Odložil Memorial event in June.
Access - Getting To Stadion Juliska
Getting to Juliska Stadium is relatively straightforward using Prague's public transport network. Take Metro Line A to Hradčanská station and then board Bus 131, which takes approximately 8-13 minutes to reach the Dukla-Juliska stop, located directly beside the stadium.
Alternatively, by tram, take Metro Line A to Dejvická station and catch Tram 8 or 18 to the final stop at Nádraží Podbaba. From there, it is around a 10-minute walk uphill via Pod Juliskou, including a steep set of stairs, to reach the stadium.
Accessibility
Stadion Juliska in Prague has limited wheelchair accessibility and is considered only partially accessible, with several features that may present challenges for visitors with mobility needs. The main entrance on the south side, along Na Julisce Street, is barrier-free, and two designated parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are available near the entrance. However, the surrounding area has steep slopes, with inclines of up to 12% from nearby bus stops, which may make accessing the stadium difficult without assistance.
Address: Na Julisce 28/2, 160 00 Prague 6 - Dejvice, 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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