Pohang Steel Yard

{{Short description|Football stadium in Pohang, South Korea}} {{Infobox venue | name = Pohang Steel Yard<br />포항스틸야드 | nickname = | image = Pohang080413 1.jpg | image_size = 250px | location = Jeomchonsa-dong 1-6, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | opened = November 10, 1990 | owner = POSCO | operator = Pohang Steelers | surface = Natural grass | renovated = | capacity = 15,546 | dimensions = {{convert|105|×|68|m|yd|abbr=off}} | coordinates = {{coord|35.997781|129.384242|type:landmark|display=inline}} | construction_cost = 11 billion won | tenants = Pohang Steelers (1990–present) }} The '''Pohang Steel Yard''' is a football stadium in Pohang, South Korea. It is the home stadium of Pohang Steelers. The stadium holds 15,546 spectators and was built in 1990 as the first football-specific stadium in South Korea.

== History == Former honorary POSCO chairman Park Tae-joon pushed for the construction of a football-specific stadium as a step towards the professionalisation of the POSCO team and the development of football in South Korea more broadly.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seo |first=Seo-bin |date=16 October 2018 |title=한국 축구 역사의 증거, 스틸야드 |trans-title=Evidence of the history of Korean football, the Steelyard |url=https://sports.donga.com/sports/article/all/20181015/92408996/3 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=Sports Dong-a |language=ko}}</ref> Construction was completed in 1990 and the Steel Yard opened to the public in November of that year with a match between POSCO Atoms (now Pohang Steelers) and Korea University.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 September 2016 |title=Welcome to Korea's first home of football — Pohang's iconic Steel Yard |url=https://newsroom.posco.com/en/welcome-koreas-first-home-football-pohangs-iconic-steel-yard/ |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=POSCO Newsroom}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 1990 |title=축구전용구장 국내 첫선 포철, 1백10억 들여 완공 |trans-title=Korea's first football stadium completed at cost of 110bn won to Pohang Steel |url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1990110900289111014&editNo=4&printCount=1&publishDate=1990-11-09&officeId=00028&pageNo=11&printNo=770&publishType=00010 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=Hankyoreh |page=11 |language=ko |via=Naver News Library}}</ref>

Pohang Steelers marked the 30th anniversary of the Steel Yard in 2020 by incorporating the stadium into the design of their home kit and releasing commemorative merchandise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Bareum |date=9 December 2019 |title='축구의 성지' 포항스틸야드 위용 담았다 |trans-title=The majestic Pohang Steelyard, the 'holy land of football' |url=https://www.kbmaeil.com/article/201912090266325 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=Gyeongbuk Maeil |language=ko}}</ref>

In 2022, the stadium was damaged by Typhoon Hinnamnor, forcing the Steelers to play a K League 1 home fixture against Suwon Samsung Bluewings at the Bluewings' own home ground.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson Kim |first=Dave |date=6 September 2022 |title=South Korea's historic football stadium was attacked by a typhoon |url=https://www.football-asian.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2540 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=Football Asian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bae |first=Jin-nam |date=8 September 2022 |title=K리그1 포항-수원 14일 포항 경기, 태풍 피해로 수원서 개최 |trans-title=K League 1: Pohang-Suwon match on 14th to be played in Suwon due to typhoon damage |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20220908050700007 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=Yonhap News Agency |language=ko}}</ref>

== Structure and facilities == In 2003, the stadium was upgraded with a comprehensive renovation, such as a year-round turf field, modern sound system, and new player lockers. The electric scoreboard and lightings, sound facilities and convenient facilities are rated as good as those of the stadiums built to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup.<ref name = "renovation">{{cite web | url = http://footballtripper.com/pohang-steel-yard-stadium-guide/ | title = Pohang Steel Yard | author = Football Tripper | publisher = footballtripper.com | date = 2 July 2015 | access-date = 24 September 2015}}</ref>

The VIP seating area, known as the ''Skybox,'' was refurbished in 2024 and seats up to 13 people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Young-ho |date=4 July 2024 |title=K리그1 포항, 스틸야드 스카이박스 리뉴얼 |trans-title=K League 1's Pohang refurbish Steelyard Skybox |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20240704144700007 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=Yonhap News Agency |language=ko}}</ref> Ahead of the 2025 season, Pohang Steelers revealed a series of renovations to the stadium including the expansion of the supporters area in the north stand and the addition of seating with tables in some parts of the home end.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Jo-hwi |date=7 February 2025 |title=K리그1 포항, 스틸야드 새 단장 완료…좌석·편의시설 확대 |trans-title=K League 1's Pohang complete Steelyard redevelopment... Expansion of seating and facilities |url=https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/6289568 |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=No Cut News |language=ko}}</ref> Several convenience stores and fast food outlets were also opened within the stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Won-hee |date=8 February 2025 |title=포항스틸야드 새 단장 완료! 서포팅존·테이블 추가... 편의점·음식점도 생겼다 |trans-title=Pohang Steelyard renovations complete! Supporting zone, table seats added... Convenience stores and food outlets constructed |url=https://v.daum.net/v/tLUiGmHEyn |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=Star News |language=ko |via=Daum}}</ref>

== Transport == The Steel Yard is located in the industrial area to the south of Pohang, {{convert|12|km|mi}} away from Pohang station.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=Andrew |date=13 July 2023 |title=Groundhopper's guide to..... Pohang Steel Yard |url=https://www.kleagueunited.com/2023/07/groundhoppers-guide-to-pohang-steel-yard.html |access-date=16 January 2026 |website=K League United}}</ref> The stadium is served by local buses and there is free on-site parking for spectators.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090203113648/http://worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/asia/south_korea/kyongsangbuk_do/pohang_yard.shtml Pohang Steel Yard] at World Stadiums

{{coord|35|59|52.01|N|129|23|3.27|E|type:landmark|display=title}}

Category:Football venues in South Korea Category:Sports venues in North Gyeongsang Province Category:Pohang Steelers Category:Sports venues completed in 1990 Category:1990 establishments in South Korea Category:K League 1 stadiums