Lotto Park, also known as Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, is the home of RSC Anderlecht and is a historic venue where authentic football prevails at every turn.
Today, we will tell you a little more about the home of this important team in Belgium.
Table of Contents
About Anderlecht
If you are a football fan, you have probably heard of Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, one of the biggest clubs in Belgium. Anderlecht won their first league title in 1947 and hasn’t stopped winning titles since. The club is the country’s biggest winner, with 69 official titles, including 34 in the Belgian Championship, and is also the most successful Belgian football club in UEFA competitions, with five league titles won. Always at the top of the Belgian first division, Anderlecht is a club of majestic grandeur.
History of the Stadium and Infrastructure
Anderlecht played on a pitch in Verheydenstraat until the Second World War. However, the first actual stadium was built in Astrid Park (then known as Meir Park), where the current stadium stands. Located in Anderlecht, Brussels, the new stadium was opened in 1917. It was initially named Émile Versé Stadium in honor of a club patron. At the time, it had only one wooden stand, which was later replaced by concrete stands. In 1980, the stadium reached its record attendance with 38,349 spectators for a game against Standard Liège.
Between 1983 and 1991, the stadium underwent a complete reconstruction and was renamed Constant Vanden Stock Stadium (Stade Constant Vanden Stock) in honor of the club’s then-president. The renovation cost 1.5 billion Belgian francs and was financed entirely by the club without government support. In 1992, Anderlecht won the International Olympic Committee’s architecture award.
The stadium underwent renovations in 2012 to meet UEFA Cup standards, reducing its capacity to 21,500 seats but increasing comfort and security. New VIP areas, a press room, and seats with backrests and wider aisles were installed. Plans to expand the stadium with a third ring to accommodate 30,000 spectators were also considered, but these plans were abandoned in 2022 due to financial and political concerns. In 2019, the stadium was officially renamed Lotto Park for sponsorship reasons.
The Largest Business Club in Belgium
Although small, the stadium has many VIP facilities that provide a luxurious and exclusive experience. In addition to bringing together fans for VIP experiences, the club is essential for corporate events and business networking, as people gather to watch games and talk about business. Here are some of the facilities:
VIP Lounges And Exclusive Bars
Elegant settings where guests can enjoy gourmet drinks and meals.
Meeting Rooms
These rooms are equipped with modern technology and are perfect for business meetings before or after the games.
Executive Boxes
These are private spaces that offer privileged views of the pitch. They are equipped with comfortable seating, catering services, and access to exclusive bars and lounges.
Gastronomic Experience
The club offers seven gastronomic spaces where you can enjoy incredible cuisine. Renowned two-star Brussels chef Yves Mattagne is in charge of the Saint Guidon restaurant, which is one of the options if you are a club member.
Outdoor and Indoor Business Seats
Business seats are located in prime areas of the stadium, providing excellent views of the pitch. There are indoor and outdoor options, which is great news as it covers all tastes.
These seats have comfortable backrests in specific sections to ensure a superior viewing experience for Anderlecht supporters. During the 2012 renovations, 651 outdoor VIP seats were added, increasing capacity and comfort for premium spectators.
Benefits Of The Club
As Belgium’s largest corporate club, R.S.C. Anderlecht offers its corporate members a range of exclusive benefits at Lotto Park. These include:
- Priority Access: Exclusive entry and priority check-in to ensure a hassle-free experience.
- Corporate Events: The stadium can be booked for corporate events, from small meetings to large conferences and product launches.
- VIP Parking: VIP members can access reserved parking close to the stadium, making it easy to get in and out on match days.
- Personalized Service: Lotto Park’s VIP services include customized service to ensure every detail of your guest experience is taken care of. From the dedicated welcome upon arrival to the bespoke catering in the boxes, every aspect is designed to provide a memorable and luxurious experience.
Accessibility
Accessibility is often talked about but not always applied in practice. Fortunately, Lotto Park has been trying to make the stadium accessible and inclusive for all fans. Below are the key accessibility features at the location.
- Designated spaces: Special spaces are reserved for fans in wheelchairs. These spaces are in row 1, with an additional 28 spaces for accompanying persons. Access to these sections is via entrance 5.
- Toilet facilities: The stadium has three adapted toilets. Two are at the top of sections S3/S4, and a portable toilet is available in the fan zone.
- Trained stewards: In sections S3/S4, trained stewards are available to help and provide assistance as needed.
- Visually Impaired Stand: The stadium offers a dedicated stand for blind and visually impaired visitors. This stand has headsets that broadcast detailed match commentary from dedicated volunteers. There are 26 seats in this stand, located near the halfway line in the President’s Box.
- Meeting Point: On match days, visually impaired fans meet at Entrance 2 and are escorted to their stand before kick-off.
Each of these initiatives demonstrates Lotto Park’s commitment to providing a comfortable and inclusive stadium environment for all fans. By paying attention to all the aspects of a matchday experience, Lotto Park ensured that the stadium was more inclusive and equitable for all its users.
The Experience Goes Beyond the Stadium
The complete experience of visiting the stadium also includes the surroundings. It seems that on match days, the area around the stadium transforms, living and breathing football. Before and after games, people have fun on the streets, in bars, street carts, and restaurants. There are many themed bars around the area.
You can also find a mural of one of the most extraordinary talents to emerge from the club’s academy near the stadium. At the intersection of Itterbeekselaan and Mededingingstraat, a huge painting depicts Youri Tielemans and the stages of his life. Youri was already a key player for Anderlecht when he was just sixteen years old.
Walking around the area, you will discover themed and fun businesses and always find someone with whom to talk about football.
How to Get to Lotto Park (Constant Vanden Stock Stadium)
Lotto Park is located in Anderlecht, Brussels, and is pretty easily reachable for local and visiting fans. Here are some of the main options:
- Metro: This is the most convenient way to get to the stadium. Saint-Guidon/Sint-Guido is the nearest metro station, which is only a 5-minute walk from the stadium. Metro line 5 connects various parts of Brussels.
- Bus: Several bus lines run close to the stadium. I recommend checking local public transport options on the day of the event, as bus lines can vary depending on the season. Bus lines usually offer direct connections to the Anderlecht area.
- Car: If you drive from other parts of Brussels or outside the city, use the main roads connecting Brussels to Anderlecht. Follow the signs for Lotto Park or the address: Avenue Théo Verbeecklaan 2, 1070 Anderlecht, Brussels. The stadium offers limited parking for fans, including areas reserved for VIP ticket holders. I advise arriving early to secure a spot and avoid heavy traffic on match days.
- Bicycle: There are bicycle parking facilities near the stadium. Brussels has a well-developed network of cycle paths, making it easy to cycle to Lotto Park.
- Taxi and ride-hailing services: Taxi and ride-hailing services such as Uber are widely available in Brussels. These services can drop you off directly at the stadium entrance, which is sometimes more convenient (and sometimes cheaper).
In Purple, We Trust!
Overall, Lotto Park may not be that big in size, but its layout and match-day atmosphere certainly make it grand on every level. As Lotto Park continues to evolve and modernize, it has maintained its essence, offering memorable experiences for both fans and those looking for a standout venue in the city.
The opportunity to watch a game at this stadium is incredible and well worth it! If you ever visit Brussels, be sure to head to this incredible venue and experience everything Belgian football has to offer!
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