Ernst-Happel-Stadion

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Ernst Happel Stadium
fullname = Ernst-Happel-Stadion
nickname =


UEFA
location = Vienna, Austria
broke_ground = 1929
built = 1929-1931
opened = 1931
renovated = 1986
closed =
demolished =
owner = City of Vienna
operator = Wiener Stadthalle Betriebs- und Veranstaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H.
surface =
construction_cost =
architect = Otto Ernst Schweizer
former_names = Prater Stadium "(Praterstadion)"
tenants = Austrian national football team
Austria Vienna (UEFA-organised games only)
Rapid Vienna (UEFA-organised games only)
seating_capacity = 53,008
dimensions =

The Ernst Happel Stadium "(Audio|Ernst-Happel-Stadion.ogg|Ernst-Happel-Stadion)" in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Austria's capital Vienna, was known as the Prater Stadium "(Praterstadion)" prior to 1992. It was built between 1929 and 1931 for the second Workers' Olympiad to the design of German architect Otto Ernst Schweizer. The stadium was renamed in honour of Ernst Happel following his death in 1992. The stadium was host to seven games in UEFA Euro 2008, including the final which saw Spain triumph over Germany. It also served as a Holocaust prison during WWII.

Football

The Ernst Happel Stadium is the largest football stadium in Austria. It is the home of the Austrian national football team. Club football matches are generally limited to the domestic cup and international competitions featuring one of Vienna's top clubs, FK Austria Wien and SK Rapid Wien, as their regular stadiums are too small to host UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup matches. Local derbies between FK Austria and SK Rapid have also been played in the stadium.

The stadium is rated one of UEFA's permitting it to host the UEFA Champions League final. The seating capacity was temporarily expanded to 53,008 [cite web | title=Vienna City Government website | url=http://www.wien.gv.at/freizeit/sportamt/sportstaetten/stadien/happel.htm] for the 2008 European Football Championship, with the final played in the stadium. The stadium also hosted 3 group games, 2 quarter-final matches, a semi-final and final. The attendance record of 92,706 for the match against the USSR was in 1960 [cite web | title=Vienna City Government website | url=http://www.wien.gv.at/freizeit/sportamt/annodazumal/sportstaetten/stadion.html#abschnitt05] . The capacity has since been reduced.

Notable matches held in the stadium

*2008 UEFA Euro 2008 final: Spain 1 – 0 Germany
*1995 UEFA Champions League final: Ajax 1 – 0 AC Milan
*1994 UEFA Cup final: Inter Milan 1– 0 SV Austria Salzburg
*1990 European Cup final: AC Milan 1 – 0 Benfica
*1987 European Cup final: FC Porto 2 – 1 Bayern München
*1970 European Cup Winners Cup final: Manchester City F.C. 2 – 1 Górnik Zabrze
*1964 European Cup final: Inter Milan 3 – 1 Real Madrid

UEFA Euro 2008

The Ernst-Happel-Stadion hosted 7 games of EURO 2008: 3 group games, two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final.

Other Sports

Other sporting events are held in the stadium, including athletics, cycling and tennis. In 1950, 35,000 [cite web | title=Vienna City Government website | url=http://www.wien.gv.at/freizeit/sportamt/annodazumal/sportstaetten/stadion.html#abschnitt07] watched Austrian Josef Weidinger win the European Heavyweight crown against Stefan Olek (of France), and in 1995, a temporary pool in the stadium was the venue for the European LC Championships.

Panorama

Concerts

The stadium has hosted a number of rock concerts, with crowds of up to 56,000 attending performances by Robbie Williams, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Three Tenors, Rolling Stones, U2, Guns N' Roses, Pink Floyd and Tina Turner.

World War 2

The stadium was used as a temporary prison for Viennese Jews on the verge of WWII [cite web | title=Happel Stadium hides a sinister past | url=http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/europe/080627-happel] . There is a memorial to the murdered Jews at the stadium.

References