Bloomfield Stadium, which is located in Jaffa, is a “temple” of football. The stadium has a rich history of football and dramatic moments, is the most popular among the Israeli fans, and is the home ground of the three Tel Aviv teams (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Bnei Yehuda). You may be on your way to a match of one of them, or perhaps of the Israeli national team – but one thing is for sure: getting to Bloomfield Stadium is not a simple thing. In today’s post we are going to describe all the ways you can go to the stadium on matchday, where it’s best to park, what to eat in the area and some more tips worth knowing.
Bloomfield Stadium
Bloomfield Stadium is built on the location of the historic Basa Stadium, which served as home ground for an Arab team called Shabab el-Arab as well as the Mandate Police in the 1920s (It is named after a large swamp that was accumulated in this area during winter months).
After the establishment of the state of Israel, it was decided to build a new stadium, and indeed in 1962 Bloomfield Stadium was built on the ruins of the historic pitch. Funding for the construction of the new stadium was raised with a donation from the Bloomfield Brothers Foundation, which is why the stadium is named after them.
Over the years, the stadium has undergone extensive changes, and at the end of the 2015/16 season it was closed for drastic renovations. In 2019 it reopened and hosted the debut game in the new setup, which includes about 29,400 seats, 4 locker rooms, 21 buffets and 10 viewing booths.
Beyond the number of seats that was doubled, the pitch was also replaced with a unique hybrid grass, which was grown in a dedicated “nursery” in the South Park in Tel Aviv, in parallel with the construction of the stadium. This method was first performed in Israel, and it is common in the leading stadiums in the world.
The Structure of the Stadium
As mentioned, the stadium was closed for three years during which it underwent a massive renovation: all the old buildings under the stands were demolished, and all components of the building, facades, locker rooms, VIP halls, viewing booths, communication stations, buffets, toilets and all other parts were rebuilt according to the highest UEFA standards.
The various gates in the stadium:
- Gate 1 (VIP) – An indoor stand consisting of the “Golden Stand”, the “Platinum Stand” and the Journalists’ Stand.
- Gate 2 – a partially covered platform with marked places. In Maccabi and Hapoel games, it is dedicated to the local fans. Contains 3,130 seats.
- Goal 4/5 – In Hapoel games, this is a stand where fans from the “Ultras Hapoel” organization sit. In the Maccabi games, it is usually dedicated to the fans of the opposing team. Contains about 4,800 seats.
- Gate 7/8 – stands containing home fans. Contains about 6,000 seats.
- Gate 8 – Contains home fans. At the Bnei Yehuda games, this is a stand where members of the “Lions Army” fan organization sit. Contains about 5,300 seats.
- Gate 10/11 – In Maccabi games, this is a stand where fans from the “Maccabi Fanatics” organization sit. In Hapoel games this is usually a stand dedicated to the opposing team’s fans. Contains about 4,800 seats.
- Gate 13 – a partially covered platform with marked places. In Maccabi games, it is usually a home stand, but in some Hapoel games it is used by the opposing team’s fans. Contains about 3,150 places.
Parking at Bloomfield Stadium and Traffic Arrangements on Matchday
As is well known, the stadium is located in a crowded urban area and close to the construction site of the light rail line on Jerusalem Boulevard, which was recently closed to traffic. Due to this, and in order to make it easier for the residents of the area, the streets adjacent to the stadium will be closed to private vehicles during the matches, and only vehicles of local residents will be allowed to pass.
The streets that are usually closed:
- She’erit Yisrael Street – From Shlavim to Tkuma, including the crossing streets.
- Sugihara Street.
- Hatchia Street – From Shlavim to Tkuma, including the crossing streets: 3320, 3952.
- HaTkoma Street – There will be a passage for vehicles for street residents only.
These streets will be blocked about five hours before the start of the match and open about an hour after it ends. Any parking and driving on these streets will be prohibited for all vehicles, including motorcycles. All vehicles parked on these streets will be towed, so do not try to cheat and park in it earlier, it will not work.
So where can you park on the day of a match in Bloomfield Stadium?
There are quite a few car parking lots which are about a 10-minute walk from the stadium. The “Merkazim” parking lot (also called “Bloomfield parking lot”) is the closest, and costs 24 NIS for parking up to 24 hours (there is no hourly rate).
A tip we received from a veteran Maccabi fan: Try inputting “Abu Kabir Park” in Waze (or any other navigation system). This will take you to an area with a lot of street parking options, which is located about ten minutes east of the stadium.
How to Get to Bloomfield Stadium With Public Transportation
If you do not feel like looking for parking at Bloomfield Stadium – and we fully understand you – there is still some hope. In light of the transportation challenge there, the stadium was designed with an emphasis on various arrival solutions, including public transportation and the light rail that is being built, Tel Ofan (local bike rentals) and other means of transportation.
Bus
Bloomfield Stadium can be reached by public transport on a wide variety of bus lines, including – 1, 15, 25, 40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 54, 83, 88, 125, 142, 240. According to the Tel Aviv Municipality, about 120 buses stop at stations in the stadium area every hour.
Do not forget to get a Rav Kav before boarding the bus!
Train
Arriving by train is an effective choice only if the match is not played during the Sabbath (because the trains in Israel do not operate on the Sabbath). If you choose to arrive by train, take the one that is best for you in order to reach the Holon-Wolfson station. From there you can continue by bus, rent an electric scooter or bicycle from the docking stations or walk for about twenty minutes to the stadium.
Alternative Transportation – Bicycles and Scooters
On the edge of the Groningen garden, next to the stadium, about 1,000 docking places for bicycles and scooters were set up, as well as about 40 Tel-Ofan bicycles. In order to encourage users and improve the convenience of service, the municipality has added a deposit stand for electric batteries and helmets, which is located in the music center there.
For more articles in the series: About Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa and Toto Turner Stadium in Beer Sheva.
What to Eat Near Bloomfield Stadium?
Jaffa is a paradise in terms of food supply for the starving fan. Countless eateries are open on Saturday evenings offering meat in all its shades, shawarma, steak houses, kebabs and chickpeas not far from the stadium.
To each his own taste, but we will mention the restaurant “Burger Station 23” which opened recently and offers rolls in a variety of colors that are fun to eat after a match (and also wonderfully Instagramed). If the match is on a Saturday afternoon, a quick visit to “Abu-Hassan” hummus – which is open until the hummus is finished, usually until the early afternoon – can be a great option.
In Conclusion
Bloomfield Stadium is located in the heart of the busiest area in the country, and with the biggest parking problems. On the other hand, it certainly offers quite a few good public transportation options. On days of a big match the traffic to it is going to be high, so it is advisable to plan your departure times well in advance, and try to optimize and fill a whole vehicle coming in.
