Liebenauer Stadium facts for kids
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| Former names | Arnold Schwarzenegger-Stadion (1995–2005) Stadion Graz-Liebenau (2005–2006) UPC-Arena (2006–2016) |
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| Location | Ivica-Osim-Platz 1 8041 Graz-Liebenau Austria |
| Coordinates | 47°02′46″N 15°27′16″E / 47.04611°N 15.45444°E |
| Owner | Stadion Liebenau Betriebs GmbH |
| Operator | City of Graz |
| Capacity | 16,364 (domestic games) 15,323 (international games) |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m (114.8 x 74.4 yd) |
| Surface | Natural grass with under-soil heating |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 9 January 1995 |
| Opened | 9 July 1997 |
| Tenants | |
| Sturm Graz Grazer AK 2011 IFAF World Championship |
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| Website | |
| https://mcg.at/locations/merkur-arena/# | |
The Merkur-Arena is a cool sports stadium in Graz, Austria. It's home to two popular football teams, SK Sturm Graz and Grazer AK. This stadium has had a few different names over the years, like the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium and UPC-Arena. It's located in the Liebenau area of Graz.
Contents
Stadium History: From Old to New
The very first stadium in Liebenau was built a long time ago, even before World War II. In the 1950s, it got some upgrades. They added a skating rink, which is now used by the Graz 99ers ice hockey team, and an indoor swimming pool.
Later, a special track for motorcycle speedway races was built around the football field. This track even hosted important qualifying races for the Speedway World Championship in 1965 and 1970. In the 1970s, the stadium became the main home for Graz's big football clubs, SK Sturm and Grazer AK. Eventually, the old stadium was taken down to make way for a brand new one.
Building the Modern Merkur-Arena
Construction for the new stadium began in 1996. It was planned to be named after Arnold Schwarzenegger, a famous bodybuilder, actor, and former governor of California. He was born near Graz. The stadium was built quickly, from 1996 to early 1997. It is owned by a company called Stadion Liebenau Betriebs GmbH.
The new stadium officially opened on July 9, 1997. The very first game played there was between Grazer AK and SK Sturm Graz, with SK Sturm Graz winning 4-0.
Name Changes Over Time
In December 2005, there was a big discussion in Graz about the stadium's name. This happened after Arnold Schwarzenegger made a decision that caused some disagreement in his hometown. Because of this, Schwarzenegger decided that the city of Graz could no longer use his name for the stadium.
So, on December 26, 2005, his name was removed from the stadium. The remaining part, Stadion Graz-Liebenau, was also removed a few months later. On February 18, 2006, the stadium was renamed the UPC-Arena.
Then, in March 2016, an Austrian insurance company called Merkur Versicherung bought the rights to name the stadium. That's when it became known as the Merkur-Arena, which is its name today.
In 2023, the city of Graz honored a famous football player and coach, Ivica Osim, who had played and coached for SK Sturm Graz for many years. They renamed the area in front of the Merkur Arena to Ivica-Osim-Platz, which means 'Ivica-Osim-Square'.
Merkur-Arena: Fun Facts and Features
The Merkur-Arena can hold many fans! It has an official capacity of 15,400 people, spread across 27 different sections. For special games, like those in the UEFA Champions League played by SK Sturm Graz, extra platforms were sometimes added. This allowed the stadium to hold up to 16,000 spectators. The stadium also has a special area for people using wheelchairs.
The Playing Field
The football field itself is quite large, measuring 105 by 68 meters. It's also equipped with special under-soil heating. This heating system helps keep the grass in good condition, even during colder weather.
Famous Matches Played Here
The Merkur-Arena has hosted some exciting international football matches.
- On September 5, 2009, the Austrian national team played a World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands. Austria won that game 3-1.
- On May 30, 2010, the England national team played a friendly match against the Japanese national team. England was training nearby for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. England won the match 2-1, thanks to two own goals scored by Japan.
Stadium Sponsors
The stadium has had different sponsors over the years, which led to its name changes.
- From 2006 to 2016, the stadium was sponsored by UPC Austria. During this time, it was known as the UPC-Arena.
- In 2016, Merkur Versicherung, an Austrian insurance company, took over the sponsorship rights. They signed a contract to sponsor the stadium for 10 years, which means it will be called the Merkur-Arena until at least 2026.
See also
In Spanish: Stadion Graz-Liebenau para niños
- List of football stadiums in Austria
- Lists of stadiums
