Stadionul UMT


Stadionul UMT was a multi-purpose stadium in Timișoara, Romania. Until 1960 the stadium was known as Stadionul Electrica and was the main home ground in Timișoara for athletics championships, being also the stadium where Olympic champion Iolanda Balaș made its debut. Ripensia Timișoara and Electrica Timișoara also used the stadium as the home ground for football matches.
In 1960 the stadium entered into possession of Uzinele Mecanice Timișoara and a sports complex was built around it, consisting of another stadium and various grounds. The new stadium was named Stadionul Electrica and the old one was renamed after the owner of the sports complex, Stadionul UMT. This name changing of the stadiums and their location, just a few meters from each other, were favorable factors in creating some confusion over time.
From 1960 Stadionul UMT was the home ground of UM Timișoara, a football team founded in 1960 by the same Uzinele Mecanice Timișoara. Between 2001 and 2002 this stadium was the home ground for Liga I matches, but was closed in 2008, when UM Timișoara relegated to Liga IV, being dissolved by its owner, UMT. After 2008 the stadium was closed and reached the state of dereliction before being demolished in 2016. Stadionul UMT had a capacity of 9,900 seats.