Pankritio

The Pankritio Stadium (also spelled Pagkritio) is a modern multi-purpose arena located in Heraklion, Crete, uniquely positioned just meters away from the Aegean Sea coast. Completed in December 2003, it famously served as a premier football venue for the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games and initially became the long-term home of local rivals Ergotelis. It boasts a seating capacity of 26,240 spectators. While OFI Crete F.C. historically played at their compact, atmospheric Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium (nicknamed Genti Koule), the old ground’s rigid physical constraints, urban surroundings, and small size severely limited the club's growth. Seeking a larger, elite infrastructure to match their modern European ambitions—such as hosting high-profile UEFA Europa League fixtures—OFI successfully finalized a transition to take over the superior, municipal Pankritio Stadium as their official home ground starting from the 2025–26 season.