Donbas Arena (Ukrainian: Донбас Арена [donˈbɑs ɐˈrɛnɐ]) is a stadium with a natural grass pitch in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, that opened on 29 August 2009.
The roof of the stadium slopes from north to south matching the landscape and contributing to the natural lighting and airing of the pitch.
Shakhtar Donetsk's first match at the stadium was a 4–0 victory in a 2009–10 Ukrainian Premier League fixture on 27 September 2009 against FC Obolon Kyiv.
[6] The first international game took place on 18 November 2009 against Greece, which Ukraine lost 0–1 failing to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
[7][8] Donbas Arena was included in the official bidding project submitted by Poland and Ukraine for hosting UEFA Euro 2012.
[9] The stadium was an inspiration for one of the multiplayer maps in the 2020 battle royale video game Call of Duty: Warzone, which depicts several real-life locations in Donetsk.
[10][11] On 20 May 2014, the stadium hosted a small "Peace March" against the violence of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.
[12] On 22 August 2014, the stadium was damaged by what was reported to be artillery shelling, as the Ukrainian armed forces clashed with pro-Russian separatists for control of the city.
This time, the stadium sustained damage to the east and west sides and at least one large glass panel fell near a young girl.
[16] In early 2017, the club moved their home games to the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv (183 miles (295 km) to the north-west of Donetsk).