אצטדיון בלומפילד

אצטדיון בלומפילד ממוקם בעיר תל אביב-יפו, בבעלות עיריית תל אביב-יפו ובניהול חברת "היכלי הספורט תל אביב-יפו". האצטדיון הוקם בשנת 1962 ונקרא על שם לואיס בלומפילד, נדבן יהודי-קנדי שתרם להקמתו. עבר הרחבה בשנים 2016–2019, מכיל 29,400 מקומות ישיבה, ומהווה את מגרשן הביתי של מכבי תל אביב והפועל תל אביב. לעיתים מארח האצטדיון גם את משחקי נבחרת ישראל ומשחקי חצי גמר וגמר גביע המדינה.

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אצטדיון בלומפילד נחנך ב־13 באוקטובר 1962 במשחק של הפועל תל אביב נגד שמשון תל אביב. בשנת 1963 החלה גם מכבי תל אביב לארח חלק ממשחקיה באצטדיון בלומפילד, במקרים בהם היה צפי לקהל רב שאצטדיון המכביה לא יכול היה להכיל, ובשנת 1969 עברה הקבוצה לארח את משחקיה באצטדיון בלומפילד באופן קבוע. החל מאמצע שנות ה-80 שימש לרוב אצטדיון רמת גן כמגרשה הביתי, ובשנת 2000 חזרה הקבוצה לבלומפילד.

הקמת האצטדיון (1960–1962)

אצטדיון בלומפילד הוקם על שטח שבו שכן קודם לכן "אצטדיון באסה". אבן הפינה הונחה בשנת 1960, והקמתו התאפשרה הודות לתרומה של קרן האחים בלומפילד (על שמם הוא קרוי עד היום). האצטדיון נחנך רשמית באוקטובר 1962 במשחק של הפועל תל אביב נגד שמשון תל אביב, וכלל אז כ-22,000 מקומות ישיבה (חלקם בעמידה על טריבונות בטון).

מעבר לבעלות עירונית ושיפוצי ביניים

במשך שנים נוהל האצטדיון על ידי מועצת פועלי תל אביב (ההסתדרות). בשנת 1999 הסתיימה תקופת החכירה והבעלות עברה לידי עיריית תל אביב-יפו. בתחילת שנות ה-2000 הותקנו מושבים בכל היציעים והוסרו הגדרות שהפרידו בין הקהל למגרש, מה שהפך את חוויית הצפייה לאירופית יותר אך צמצם את הקיבולת לכ-15,000 מקומות.

ההרחבה המסיבית (2016–2019)

בשנת 2016 החל פרויקט התחדשות נרחב שכלל הריסה של חלק מהמבנים הישנים ובנייה מחדש של יציעים מודרניים. המטרה הייתה להתאים את האצטדיון לתקנים המחמירים ביותר של אופ"א (Category 4).

• קיבולת: מספר המושבים הוכפל לכ-29,400 מקומות.
• שדרוגים טכנולוגיים: הותקן דשא היברידי, הוקמו תאי צפייה (VIP), שטחי עבודה לתקשורת ומערכות תאורה וסאונד מתקדמות.
• תקציב: עלות הפרויקט נאמדה בכ-500 מיליון ש"ח.

סטטוס נוכחי

האצטדיון המחודש נפתח באוגוסט 2019. כיום הוא משמש כביתן של שתי הקבוצות הגדולות בעיר: מכבי תל אביב והפועל תל אביב. התכנון המודרני שם דגש על נגישות באמצעות תחבורה ציבורית (בדגש על הקו האדום של הרכבת הקלה) ופחות על חניה פרטית במתחם.

Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC was founded in 1927 and is considered one of the biggest and most prominent FCs in the Israeli football league. The "Reds" hold 13  League Championship titles and 16 national cups (the only team in Israel who won 3 national cups three years in a row) all this along with an impressive history in various European competitions.

Hapoel Tel Aviv FC won its first League Championship in 1934, when the team completed a perfect season including winning the National Cup. Hapoel Tel Aviv FC continued to established itself as a dominate force winning more League Championship titles  by the time Israel was officially established. Hapoel Tel Aviv FC first League Championship after the establishment of Israel was achieved in 1957 but the next one came only nine years later, under David Shwaizer guidance from the side lines. One season later, the "Reds" became the first Israeli team who participated in the Asia tournament and even won it after beating the Malezian Slangor FC thanks to Kiko Rahaminowitz goal.

In the 1970's the "Reds" were unable to maintain stability at the top of the table, as the team got caught in dramatic relegation struggles. The early 1980's were considered as the turning point for the club, when Shwaizer and Moshe Sinai led the team to win another League Championship title. In 1983 Hapoel Tel Aviv FC won one of the most famous National Cups when Gili Landau scored a sensational goal against local rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv FC. In 1986, the "Reds" won another League Championship which also got in the history books, with a dramatic and controversial goal of Landau against Maccabi Haifa FC in the first match ever that was live broadcasted in color TV.

A year later, Hapoel Tel Aviv FC got in struggles at the bottom of the table, but stayed in the league and even won another plate in 1987/1988 starring Eli Cohen. However, an improper management of the club led to a deep economic crisis and the release of a number of important players, resulting in a relegation to the second division in 1988 /1989. A year later, the "Reds" returned to the first division under the management of the "HIstadrut".

Hapoel Tel Aviv FC failed to restore its glory days in the first division, including another relegation struggle in 1996/1997. But then Dror Kashtan was appointed as head coach and saved the team from relegating to the second division. Alongside, a group of businessmen led by Moshe Teomim, Moti Orenshtein, Sami Segol and Rafi Agiv bought Hapoel Tel Aviv FC. As expected, the wanted success to come in quick, when only a year later Hapoel Tel Aviv FC had competed to the League Championship title against Beitar Jerusalem FC. The "Reds" lost that game, a memory of the controversial "laces game" between Hapoel beit Shean FC and Beitar Jerusalem FC, in which Beit Shean FC didn’t tried very hard to win.

A year later, after recovering from the previous season "laces game" scandal, Hapoel Tel Aviv FC won the National Cup after beating Beitar Jerusalem FC in the final. Hapoel Tel Aviv's momentum continued, winning a memorable double in 1999/2000, starring the young players Pini Balili, Omry Afek and Salim Tuama under the guidance of Dror Kashtan. Also in the following years Hapoel Tel Aviv FC kept its place in the top of the league, but finished only 2cnd as Maccabi Haifa FC.

In the season of 2001/2002 the "Reds" recorded their peak achievement in the UEFA cup, after beating clubs such as Chelsea FC, Lakomotib Moscow FC and Parma FC. In the first quarterfinals Hapoel Tel Aviv FC beat AC Milan in the first leg but lost 2:1 at the return match and was dismissed from the competition. Milan Osterch became the hero of the team during that wonderful journey.

In 2004/2005, placed at the top but without winning any titles, Hapoel Tel Aviv FC faced harsh struggles in the relegation. Shaya Figenboim alongside Shalom Tikva rescued the team from the bottom and kept it in the league. Hapoel FC recovered and recorded another impressive campaign in Europe, when qualified for the UEFA Cup group stage, beating, among others, Paris Saint Germain FC and reached the final 32 teams, but was eliminated after losing to Rangers FC.

After signing Guy Luzon as head coach, Hapoel Tel Aviv FC didn’t do well in the league, but then Eli Gutman was appointed as head coach marking the beginning of a new era at Hapoel Tel Aviv FC. During his first season, Gutman got the team out from bottom struggles, and in 2008/2009 the "Reds" finished in the 2nd place. A year later Hapoel Tel Aviv FC proved an amazing ability on the field, being part of one of Israeli soccer's most dramatically seasons, in which it ended with a double: beating Maccabi Haifa FC in the 92nd minute granted Hapoel Tel Aviv FC the League Championship as well as beating Bney Yehuda FC in the National Cup final.

Hapoel FC continued to succeed in Europe competitions, reaching its best achievement at the group stage of the Champion's league. The "Reds" were raffled in the same group with Lyon FC, Benfika FC and Shalka FC, and even though the team played well (including winning 3:0 Benfika FC) it was enough to qualify for the next round.

After a long struggle concerning the ownership of the club, Eli Tabib became the sole owner due to court's decision in July 2011. Later on, Hapoel Tel Aviv FC sold most of its star players which did not prevent her from winning the National Cup under Nitzan Shirazi's guides, of blessed memory, guidance. However, at that time the main concern was regarding the clubs ownership and after a long struggle from the fans, Eli Tabib left and Haim Ramon replaced him, and for the first time a voluntary association named "The reds" was part of the clubs board of directors. On the field the team didn’t do well and many coaches were replaced in a short period: Yossi Abuksis, Frady David, Ran Ben Shimon and Asi Domb. Hapoel Tel Aviv FC had suffered from bad days including painful loses in various competitions and seemed like the club is currently unable to recreate its glory days.

Hapoel FC Opened this season with Eyal Berkovich as general manager and Asi Domb as a coach, but a continuity of loses led to the dismissal of both of them and Elii Cohen, the "Sherriff", returned for another red season as head coach.