01In brief
Vasermil Stadium is a former football stadium in Beersheba, Israel, that served as Hapoel Beersheba's home ground for 56 years before the club moved to the new 16,000-seat Turner Stadium at the start of the 2015–16 season. In its final years, Vasermil was described as "outdated" and "dilapidated." The ground also became a setting for scholarship on public emotional expression in Israeli football and figured in the memories of supporters such as Shay-El Kanfo, who was known at Gate Five in his youth.
02Overview and Location
Vasermil Stadium was a football stadium in Beersheba, Israel, and the longtime home venue of Hapoel Beersheba.[1][2] It was replaced as the club's home by Turner Stadium, a 16,000-seat facility named for former Beersheba mayor Ya'akov Turner.[1] Hapoel Beersheba entered Turner Stadium at the start of the 2015–16 season after 56 years at Vasermil.[2]
03History and Notable Matches
Hapoel Beersheba used Vasermil Stadium as its home ground for 56 years.[2] Its fixtures there included relegation-deciding games and a championship-clinching match.[3][5]
In May 1998, Vasermil was the scene of a fixture whose result determined whether Hapoel Beer Sheva would remain in Israel's senior division or be relegated to the second division.[3] The decisive moment came in the nineteenth minute, after which the players collapsed on the pitch and covered their faces with their hands while a heavy silence descended over the terraces.[3] The image of a young boy sitting and sobbing, described as "weeping for all of us," formed part of Amir Ben-Porat's peer-reviewed case study of public emotional expression in football.[3]
Vasermil also hosted Hapoel Beersheba's match against Beitar Jerusalem during the 2011–12 Premier League relegation battle. Hapoel Beersheba needed a victory to guarantee another season in Israel's top division.[6] On another occasion, Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Beersheba 2–1 at Vasermil on a Saturday night, clinching its second consecutive Premier League championship.[5]
04Cultural and Supporter Significance
Beyond its role as a match venue, Vasermil Stadium held a place in the supporter culture surrounding Hapoel Beersheba. Devoted supporter Shay-El Kanfo was a familiar figure at Gate Five of the old stadium during his youth.[4] As an adult, he held a place of honor alongside other supporters in the southern stand of Turner Stadium, which was inaugurated in Beersheba in 2015.[4]
Vasermil also served as the setting of an academic study examining changes in public emotional expression at Israeli football matches. The study notes that players and supporters once restrained displays such as weeping, hugging, and kissing because football was regarded as a "man's game," whereas later cultural changes made public crying more acceptable.[3] The reactions to the May 1998 relegation match provided the study's central case.[3]
05Replacement by Turner Stadium
By 2015, Vasermil was described as an "outdated" stadium.[1] Hapoel Beersheba was also described as having been "playing in a dilapidated stadium" before its move.[2] The club's departure at the start of the 2015–16 season ended Vasermil's 56-year role as its home ground.[2] Its successor, Turner Stadium, was named for former Beersheba mayor Ya'akov Turner and provided 16,000 seats.[1]
Sources
- 1The Jerusalem Post – Turner Stadium opening (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 2The Jerusalem Post – Bringing Glory to the Negev (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 3Ben-Gurion University Research Portal (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 4Izkor, Israel Ministry of Defense (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 5The Jerusalem Post – Maccabi Tel Aviv championship (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 6The Jerusalem Post – Relegation and European bids (accessed September 16, 2026)
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What was Vasermil Stadium?
Vasermil Stadium was a football stadium in Beersheba, Israel, that served as the longtime home ground of Hapoel Beersheba. After 56 years, the club left Vasermil at the start of the 2015–16 season for the new 16,000-seat Turner Stadium. In its final years, Vasermil was described as "outdated" and "dilapidated."
What happened at the notable May 1998 match at Vasermil Stadium?
In May 1998, Vasermil Stadium hosted a fixture that determined whether Hapoel Beer Sheva would remain in Israel's senior division or be relegated to the second division. The decisive moment came in the nineteenth minute, after which players collapsed on the pitch and covered their faces while a heavy silence fell over the terraces. The image of a young boy sobbing at the match became part of a peer-reviewed academic case study on public emotional expression in football.
What academic significance did Vasermil Stadium have?
Vasermil Stadium served as the setting for a scholarly study examining changes in public emotional expression at Israeli football matches. The study found that players and supporters once restrained displays such as weeping, hugging, and kissing because football was regarded as a "man's game," but that later cultural shifts made public crying more acceptable. The reactions to the May 1998 relegation match provided the study's central case.
What stadium replaced Vasermil as Hapoel Beersheba's home ground?
Turner Stadium replaced Vasermil as Hapoel Beersheba's home ground at the start of the 2015–16 season. The 16,000-seat facility was named for former Beersheba mayor Ya'akov Turner.
Who was Shay-El Kanfo and what was his connection to Vasermil Stadium?
Shay-El Kanfo was a devoted Hapoel Beersheba supporter who was a familiar figure at Gate Five of Vasermil Stadium during his youth. As an adult, he held a place of honor alongside other supporters in the southern stand of the club's new home, Turner Stadium.