Ernst-Happel-Stadion facts for kids
| Former names | Praterstadion |
|---|---|
| Location | Vienna, Austria |
| Owner | City of Vienna |
| Operator | Wiener Stadthalle Betriebs- und Veranstaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H. |
| Capacity | 53,008 |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Surface | lawn |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1929 -1931 |
| Opened | 11 July 1931 |
| Expanded | 1945, 1956, 1965, 1984–1986, 2005–2008 (for the UEFA Euro 2008) |
| Architect | Otto Ernst Schweizer (Tübingen) |
| Tenants | |
| Austrian football national team, FK Austria Wien and SK Rapid Wien (only for UEFA matches) | |
.jpg)
The Ernst-Happel-Stadion is a famous football stadium in Vienna, Austria. It is the largest football stadium in Austria. This stadium is the home ground for Austria's national football team.
Top football clubs from Vienna, like FK Austria Wien and SK Rapid Wien, play their important international matches here. This is because their own stadiums are too small for big tournaments like the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup. Sometimes, local derby matches between FK Austria and SK Rapid are also played at this stadium. In 2014, SK Rapid Wien used it as their main home ground while their own stadium was being rebuilt.
Contents
History of the Stadium
The Ernst-Happel-Stadion was built between 1929 and 1931. It first opened for the second Workers' Olympiad in 1931. At that time, the stadium could hold about 60,000 people. The very first match played there was between a team of worker sport clubs from Lower Austria and Vienna.
During World War II, when Nazi Germany occupied Austria, the stadium was used for different purposes. It served as army barracks and also as a place where Jewish people from Vienna were gathered. In 2003, a special plaque was placed in the VIP area to remember these sad events. In 1944, the stadium was bombed and badly damaged.
Stadium Expansions and Renaming
After World War II, the stadium was rebuilt. In 1956, its capacity was increased to 92,708 people. The record for the most visitors was 91,000. This happened on October 30, 1960, during a football match between Spain and Austria.
In 1992, the stadium was renamed. It used to be called Prater Stadium. It was changed to Ernst-Happel-Stadion after the death of Ernst Happel. He was a famous Austrian football player and coach.
UEFA Euro 2008 Matches
The Ernst-Happel-Stadion was an important venue for the UEFA Euro 2008 football tournament. It hosted seven games during the competition. These included three group games for the Austrian team, two quarter-final matches, one semi-final, and the final match.
| Date | Time (CET) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 June 2008 |
|
 Austria |
|
 Croatia |
|
51,428 |
| 12 June 2008 |
|
Austria |
|
 Poland |
|
51,428 |
| 16 June 2008 |
|
Austria |
|
 Germany |
|
51,428 |
| 20 June 2008 |
|
Croatia |
(1 – 3 pen.) |
 Turkey |
|
51,428 |
| 22 June 2008 |
|
 Spain |
(4 – 2 pen.) |
 Italy |
|
48,000 |
| 26 June 2008 |
|
 Russia |
|
Spain |
|
51,428 |
| 29 June 2008 |
|
Germany |
|
Spain |
|
51,428 |
Other Important Matches
The Ernst-Happel-Stadion has hosted many other major football finals. These include:
- 1995 UEFA Champions League final: Ajax 1 – 0 Milan
- 1994 UEFA Cup final: Internazionale 1– 0 Austria Salzburg
- 1990 European Cup final: Milan 1 – 0 Benfica
- 1987 European Cup final: Porto 2 – 1 Bayern Munich
- 1970 European Cup Winners Cup final: Manchester City 2 – 1 Górnik Zabrze
- 1964 European Cup final: Internazionale 3 – 1 Real Madrid
Concerts and Events
Besides football, the stadium is a popular place for big concerts. Many famous artists have performed here. Some of them include AC/DC, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Guns N' Roses, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, U2, and Robbie Williams.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Estadio Ernst Happel para niños
