Daugava Stadium; Riga, Latvia

This is another of the main grounds in Riga, the Daugava Stadium. It is sometimes used to stage Latvian Under 21 internationals, but I am not sure if any domestic clubs use it for league matches, so if anyone knows which team(s) are based here I'd be most grateful.


The ground itself is clearly a throwback to the old Soviet era, but it is really only 'one sided' as you will see. The most striking feature being the gigiantic floodlight pylons in each corner.

The stadium name is monogrammed into the iron gates.




This is one of the entrances, by the side road, set back from the stadium.




As you can see from this map, the main stadium has a running track. Of the other three-the one to the right is all-weather; the one to the immediate left is the second, also all-weather, pitch; & the last, furthest left, is overgrown, and has an old, worn track around it. None of them have any spectator facilities of any note.




This brick wall surrounds the main pitch, & through these trees we see some sort of youth match in progress on the second pitch.




The illustrations of the radio & video camera show you just how old this sign is!




Here we are in the lower tier of the main stand of the stadium.

We will return to here later, but from here we are going to walk round the pitch in a clockwise direction.




As I say, it is a one sided ground, & here you can see how open it is behind the goal, but oh! Look at those pylons! They really are magnificent!




Here is a view up one, from the rear.




The stand is two tiered, with no protection from the elements.




Here we are directly behind the goal, with an assortment of ahtletics equipment partically blocking our view of the pitch. I don't think I would have been standing here if there was a match on!




I took the next couple later in the evening, as the cloud had moved on, lookibg at the main stand, from behind this goal.




This was one I took at the time...with the cloud!




Now for one of the front of the pylons. I'm not really 'into' pylons, though I know there are some out there who are, but with these....how could I resist?




Completely open down the far side, not even a single step of terracing.




From the halfway line, we look across to the stand.




And now towards the far goal, sprinklers on, & big old scoreboard behind.




From that end we once again glance at the stand.




This is the end nearer to where we are.




A close up of the electronic scoreboard.




Now we're on the main side again, looking the full length of the stand.




Presumably these are the 'posh' seats, the small overhang offering a modicum of cover.




From here we look over to the open side.




Looking down the lower tier, from the back rows of it.




And behind us, these appear to be press seats.




This is the way into the lower tiers, from the concrete concourse behind, but from here the gates to the upper sections were all firmly padlocked shut, so I couldn't get any pictures from up there, unfortunately.




Now were back in the ground,lower tir, looking over to the end where we started.




This looks like an 'ultra' type sticker, though I have no idea which club.




Back behind the stand this signage tells us how to leave in the event of an emergency, I think.




Inside again, we look over the pitch once more.




And along the lower tier the last time, before leaving.




Here is the rear of the stand.




And another shot, further along.




One last look at the 'scoreboard end' on the way out.




The grounds were, until very recently, the base for the Latvian Football Association, though their offices are now empty. They were in a 'stand alone' building, set away from the stand.




This is the official Latvian Football Team bus, which was parked up here.




All you need to know on the back.




And on the way out to the main road, was this large football hoarding, advertising international matches.