Ernst Happel Stadion
The Ernst Happel Stadium, known locally as Ernst-Happel-Stadion or Happel Stadion, is located in the 2nd district of Vienna, Leopoldstadt. This stadium was originally known as the Prater Stadium or Wiener Stadion, but was renamed in 1992 in honor of legendary Austrian soccer player and trainer, Ernst Happel. After his death in 1992, he was named as “Austrian Coach of the Century”. As a skillful defensive player, Ernst Happel participated in over 50 international matches for Austria. As a talented coach, he brought home eighteen titles with 6 teams in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Austria.
Built around 1929 to 1931, Ernst-Happel-Stadion was designed by German architect Otto Ernst Schweizer. The opening took place on July 11, 1931 during the second Workers’ Olympiad. With its original launch, the stadium’s capacity was 60,000. In 1956, Ernst Happel Stadion was extended, making the stadium hold up to 92,708 people. The stadium has a record of 91,000 spectators from the Austria vs. Spain football match in October 30, 1960, wherein Austria won 3:1. However, when the stadium was roofed over entirely, the capacity of the Ernst Happel Stadion was put down to 53,008 people.
Ernst Happel Stadion has always been the largest football stadium in Austria and is the home of the Austrian national football team. Most matches of club football are held in the stadium, whether it’s the domestic cup or international competitions, which feature one of Vienna’s top clubs, such as the SK Rapid Wien and FK Austria Wien since their regular stadiums are quite small to host the UEFA cup matches and UEFA Championships League. The stadium is also home to local derbies between SK Rapid and FK Austria.
The current capacity of Ernst Happel Stadion is only 49,825. However, it is still rated one of UEFA’s Five-Star Stadiums, which normally puts stadiums with 50,000+ capacity on the list. Because of this, Ernst Happel Stadion would become the host of UEFA Champions League final so the seating capacity is being expanded to cater to 53,008 for the finals of the 2008 European Football Championship on June 29. It would also host three group games, a semi-final game and two quarter-final matches.
Notable matches held in Ernst Happel Stadion include the 1964 European Cup final’s Inter Milan and Real Madrid match, the 1970 European Cup Winners Cup final as Manchester City F.C. won over Gornik Zabrze, the 1987 Europen Cup final as FC Porto won over Bayern Munchen, the 1990 European Cup final’s AC Milan vs. Benfica match and the 1995 UEFA Champions League final as Ajax won over AC Milan.
Other sports-related events are also held in the stadium, including tennis, cycling and athletics. Notable events included the match between Austrian Josef Weidinger and European Heavyweight Stefan Olek in 1950 wherein 35,000 people watched as Weidinger won and the 1995 European LC Championships wherein the stadium build a temporary pool for the event.
Aside from sports, the Ernst Happel Stadium has also hosted dozens of rock concerts with crowds up to 55,000 attending live performances by U2, Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Three Tenors and Tina Turner.
