This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. The Aspmyra Stadion, with a capacity of 8,500 spectators, is located just 200 meters from the local airport, an old World War II military base, whose infrastructure consists of the stadium, an adjacent training field for youth, a small 20-square-meter shop, and some offices where a dozen people work. This is where Sporting plays on Wednesday night, in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. It has an uncovered stand and another that houses a school, a supermarket, and apartments. Until recently, the press room was a bowling alley, and in the Bodo/Glimt trophy room, there are four Norwegian champion trophies (2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024), a Norwegian Cup from 1975, and some trophies won in youth tournaments in France. It seems little compared to what the Nordic team has been showing in this edition of the millionaire league. A new stadium is under construction, an innovative infrastructure being built from a mix of wood and recycled aluminum. A BOLA visited the site and shows you everything. The hustle and bustle is great, the constant movement of trucks is ongoing, traffic on the surrounding roads is limited, and neighbors are already displaying Bodo/Glimt flags in their windows. The area is calm, indeed, like the rest of this city, which is the capital of Nordland county, where traffic rules are strictly followed, speed limits are not even discussed (40 km/h), and cars could even do without horns, as they are never used. It is easily accessible, located about four kilometers from the current stadium, owned by the municipality of Bodo. The Arctic Arena, as it will be called, will cost around 90 million euros and is expected to be ready by the summer of 2027. Returning to the team that will face Sporting, it should be noted that the sports growth has had a remarkable financial impact. According to the general director, Frode Thomassen, the club's budget jumped from €4.2 million to €30 million, exceeding 40 million with qualification for the Champions League. "Only thanks to sports performance. We reinvest. The club is owned by our members; it is pure. Here, you come, eat, train, and play. You have nothing else to do. Here, it’s just football," he stated in remarks to the local press. It should be noted that the investment is reflected in player salaries, with the highest salary reaching one million euros gross annually and the average monthly salary around 30,000 euros. Bodo is a city where the average cost of living is high, considering the reality in Portugal. For example, to give readers an idea, two beers can cost 25 euros and a coffee four.
The Artic Arena The Aspmyra Stadion remains central to this story.
The Artic Arena The Aspmyra Stadion remains central to this story.
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