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Praterstadion |
| Ernst Happel Stadium | |
 UEFA  |
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| Former names | Prater Stadium (Praterstadion) |
|---|---|
| Location | Vienna |
| Broke ground | 1929 |
| Built | 1929-1931 |
| Opened | 1931 |
| Renovated | 1986 |
| Owner | City of Vienna |
| Operator | Wiener Stadthalle Betriebs- und Veranstaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H. |
| Architect | Otto Ernst Schweizer |
| Capacity | 53,008 |
| Tenants | |
| Austrian national football team Austria Vienna (UEFA-organised games only) Rapid Vienna (UEFA-organised games only) |
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UEFA Euro 2008 Stadiums |
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The Ernst Happel Stadium (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.
Contents |
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 Five Star Stadiums permitting it to host the UEFA Champions League final. The seating capacity was expanded to 53,008[1] for the 2008 European Football Championship, with the final to be held in the stadium. The stadium will also host 3 group games, 2 quarter final matches, semifinal and final. The attendance record of 92,706 for a match against the USSR was in 1960[2]. The capacity has since been reduced.
For Euro 2008, the Ernst-Happel-Stadion hosted 7 games: 3 group games, two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final.
| Date | Time (CET) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 June 2008 |
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Austria |
|
 Croatia |
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51,428 |
| 12 June 2008 |
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Austria |
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 Poland |
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51,428 |
| 16 June 2008 |
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Austria |
|
 Germany |
|
51,428 |
| 20 June 2008 |
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Croatia |
(1 – 3 pen.) |
 Turkey |
|
51,428 |
| 22 June 2008 |
|
 Spain |
(4 – 2 pen.) |
 Italy |
|
48,000 |
| 26 June 2008 |
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 Russia |
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Spain |
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51,428 |
| 29 June 2008 |
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Germany |
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Spain |
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51,428 |
Other sporting events are held in the stadium, including athletics, cycling and tennis. In 1950, 35,000[3] 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.
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.
The stadium was used as a temporary prison for Viennese Jews on the verge of WWII. See story here: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/europe/080627-happel There is currently a memorial to those murdered Jews at the stadium.
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