Traffic will be restricted around the new National Arena stadium in Romanian capital Bucharest, which will host its first football match tonight. The game will start at 21:30 hours and will bring face to face the Romanian and the French national teams in the EURO 2012 preliminaries.

Starting 17:30 hours, traffic restrictions will be applied between Mihai Bravu Street and the entrance on the stadium, but also on Pierre de Coubertin Street, between Vatra Luminoasa Street and the entrance on the stadium. Also, stopping or parking cars is not allowed on Basarabia Blvd. between Hurmuzachi Square and Chisinau Blvd., on Maior Coravu Street, Vatra Luminoasa Street, and Pierre de Coubertin Street.

Although the new stadium has not hosted yet the first official game, National Arena has already presented some problems. The stadium's lawn will be changed after the game between Romania and France, because the grass has already started to deteriorate during the players training.

20 football matches will take place on the newly-opened stadium in Bucharest until December this year. English football team Machester United will come to Bucharest to play against Romanian side Otelul Galati on October 18 in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

National Arena, a project funded with public money, required investments of EUR 175 million and took four years to complete. It was initially announced to be inaugurated by Irish band U2, but the Bucharest authorities failed to sign the band for the gig, and then by a match against Argentina on August 11, which has been canceled.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: National Arena)