Port Said lies some 200km away from Cairo and is located on the meeting point between Africa and Asia. The origins of Port Said are that of a working camp founded in 1859 by Said Pasha to house men working on the Suez Canal. By the late 19th century, it was an important port where all the major maritime powers had consulates. Much of the city was built on a section of Lake Manzala which was reclaimed by landfill. Port Said still reflects yesteryear’s tranquil pace and one feels one is strolling what was once a prestigious maritime stronghold with the gentle wind sweeping in from Asia.
Located on 23 of July Street and opened in 1954 we find the 24,060 all-seater Bur Saïd Stadium, home to the biggest local club, El Masry.
Bearing the viewing distance from one of the open curved end stands in mind The Binocular Stadium would have been a more appropriate name for this dreadful bowl, open to whatever elements and with grid-iron fences that dwarf the Maginot Line, the Berlin Wall and any Thai prison for that matter.
The stadium has hosted some official and friendly matches of the national team and was refurbished for the Fifa under-17 World Championship. 2006 and 2009 saw the arrival of the ACN 2006 and the FiFA World Cup U-20 coming to Port Said respectively.
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