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Linzer Stadion

Linzer Stadion was a multi-purpose stadium in Linz, Upper Austria, Austria, primarily used for association football and serving as the home ground for the Austrian club LASK Linz from its opening in 1952 until its demolition in early 2021.^[1]^[2] Located on Gugl Hill at Ziegeleistraße 76 in the Urfahr district, the venue was originally constructed on the site of a former brickyard and opened on June 28, 1952, with an initial capacity of around 25,000 spectators.^[1]^[2] Over the decades, it underwent several renovations, including the installation of floodlights in 1967, roofing of stands in the 1970s and 1980s, and a major modernization between 2010 and 2012 that added rail seating for safe standing and brought the total capacity to 21,005 (comprising 5,844 seats, 14,918 standing places, 566 VIP seats, and 22 press seats).^[1]^[2] Owned by the City of Linz and leased long-term to LASK, the stadium also hosted matches for FC Blau-Weiß Linz and served as a venue for other sports like athletics and speedway, as well as major events including ten international matches for the Austria national football team—the first outside Vienna in 1968—and concerts by artists such as Michael Jackson in 1988, which drew 40,000 attendees.^[1]^[2] It played a key role in European football, hosting LASK's UEFA Champions League and Europa League fixtures, including victories over teams like Beşiktaş, Basel, and PSV Eindhoven, and was the site of the club's first Austrian Bundesliga title win in 1965.^[2] The stadium's final match occurred on December 16, 2020, after which demolition began in early 2021 to make way for the modern Raiffeisen Arena, which opened in 2023 on the same site with a capacity of 19,080 and continued as LASK's home, while FC Blau-Weiß Linz relocated elsewhere.^[1]^[2]

Location and Site

Geographical Position

The Linzer Stadion was situated at Ziegeleistraße 76, 4020 Linz, Austria, in the northern part of the city.^[2] Its precise geographical coordinates are 48°17′36″N 14°16′35″E, placing it on the elevated terrain of Gugl Hill.^[3] This location in the Urfahr district provided a vantage point overlooking parts of the Danube River valley, integrating the stadium into Linz's hilly northern landscape. Positioned approximately 1.5 kilometers north of Linz's historic city center (Altstadt), the stadium was embedded within a residential and green area, close to neighborhoods such as Froschberg and Bindermichl.^[2] The site's elevation on Gugl Hill contributed to its prominence in the local topography, offering scenic views while separating it from the denser urban core south of the Danube. This positioning balanced accessibility with a semi-suburban feel, facilitating integration into the broader urban fabric of Upper Austria's capital. Accessibility to the stadium relied heavily on Linz's public transport network, with tram line 1 providing direct service from the city center to nearby stops like Simonystraße, approximately 15 minutes from Hauptplatz.^[4] Complementing this, several bus lines, including 17, 19, 27, and 46, connected the area to surrounding districts such as Bindermichl and the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), which was about a 20-minute walk away.^[5] These options ensured efficient reach for visitors from both central Linz and outer suburbs, underscoring the stadium's role in the city's transport-oriented development.

Historical Site Background

The land occupied by the Linzer Stadion was originally part of the Froschberg-Brickworks, a prominent industrial brickyard that played a key role in Linz's 19th-century construction sector. Owned by the Oberösterreichische Baugesellschaft, this facility was among the region's largest, with production scaling from 3 million bricks in 1873 to 6.1 million by 1890, supporting the rapid urbanization and building projects across Upper Austria.^[6] The site's industrial significance extended into the early 20th century, where multiple brickyards—including those operated by Fabigan, Feichtinger, and the Oberösterreichische Baugesellschaft—were active, as evidenced by aerial photographs from January 1945 showing their layouts amid surrounding agricultural and emerging residential areas. Locally, the terrain on Gugl Hill earned the nickname "Auf der Gugl," reflecting both its elevated topography and longstanding association with extractive industries like brickmaking, which shaped the area's identity before broader urban shifts.^[7] By the mid-20th century, the brickyard's operations had waned, marking a transition from heavy industry to recreational purposes amid Linz's post-World War II recovery. This shift aligned with the repurposing of former industrial zones for community and green spaces, as wartime damages and economic restructuring prompted a focus on educational, housing, and public facilities in neighborhoods like Froschberg.^[8] This evolution exemplified the site's integration into Linz's post-war urban development, where infrastructure expansions addressed population growth—rising from 184,685 in 1951 to 195,978 by 1961—fueled by the revival of steel and manufacturing sectors, transforming peripheral industrial lands into vital components of the city's expanding social fabric.^[8]^[9]

Design and Capacity

Architectural Features

The Linzer Stadion was constructed using basic concrete materials, characteristic of post-war European stadium architecture, forming a three-quarters bowl layout with open stands on the north, west, and south sides, while the east end remained completely open.^[10]^[2] The structure's division into four distinct sections—North, South (main stand), East, and West—facilitated spectator flow and visibility, with the south stand featuring benches and later roofing added in 1971 for partial weather protection.^[10] A key architectural element was the inclusion of an athletics track encircling the football pitch, which supported the venue's multi-purpose design for hosting track and field competitions, speedway races, and other events alongside football matches.^[10] This track, surfaced with tartan in 1985, allowed seamless adaptation between sports without major reconfiguration, though it distanced spectators from the pitch and contributed to the stadium's atmospheric limitations in later years.^[10] The hilltop location on Gugl provided a natural foundation for the terraced stands, enhancing elevation and offering panoramic views of Linz for attendees while integrating the structure into the sloping terrain.^[10]^[2] In 2012, the stadium underwent modifications to meet UEFA standards, including the installation of rail seating in select areas to enable safe standing and the addition of safety barriers to improve spectator security.^[11] These updates integrated with the existing concrete framework, maintaining the overall layout while addressing modern regulatory requirements; floodlights, originally installed in 1967, supported evening events throughout the venue's operational life.^[10] The design's emphasis on functionality over ornamentation underscored its role as a versatile community hub, with the athletics track occasionally repurposed for non-sporting gatherings like concerts.^[10]

Seating and Facilities

The Linzer Stadion had a total capacity of 21,005 spectators.^[10] This capacity comprised 5,844 seats (including 566 VIP seats and 22 press seats) and 14,918 standing places.^[10] Following modifications in 2012, the standing sections were fitted with rail seats to enable safe standing arrangements compliant with UEFA standards for European matches.^[10] Spectator amenities at the stadium were straightforward and functional, featuring basic concessions for food and beverages as well as restrooms distributed across the grounds.^[11] Parking facilities supported around 1,000 vehicles in a medium-sized lot adjacent to the venue, accessible via Ziegeleistraße.^[11] The stadium did not include advanced roofing to fully enclose the stands or dedicated luxury boxes, reflecting its mid-20th-century design origins despite later updates.^[10] The pitch dimensions were 105 meters in length by 68 meters in width, surfaced with natural grass to meet standard football requirements.^[11]

Construction History

Initial Development

The Linzer Stadion was constructed between 1951 and 1952 on the site of a former brickyard known as the Froschberg-Brickworks, located on Gugl Hill in Linz, Austria.^[10]^[12] The project represented a key post-World War II initiative by the city to establish a multi-purpose venue capable of accommodating the growing population and revitalizing local sports activities amid Austria's economic recovery efforts.^[13]^[14] Funding for the stadium came primarily from the City of Linz, reflecting the municipal government's commitment to infrastructure development during a period of material shortages and financial constraints following the war.^[13] The stadium was owned by the City of Linz and operated by LIVA, the Linz event agency established under city control to manage public venues and events.^[15] The facility officially opened on June 28, 1952, during a large-scale school and sports festival that highlighted its role as a community hub for athletics and other activities.^[16]^[10] This inaugural event underscored the stadium's design as a versatile space with an integrated athletics track, serving the needs of Linz's expanding urban population in the early postwar era.^[13]

Renovation Efforts

Following the initial construction, Linzer Stadion underwent several phases of maintenance and upgrades to address wear from multi-purpose use, including the athletics track shared with motorcycle speedway events that continued until the early 1970s.^[1] Key early improvements included the installation of floodlights in 1967, the roofing of the main stand in 1971, and the opening of an adjacent sports and entertainment hall in 1974.^[10] Further roofing of additional stands occurred in the 1980s. Minor works focused on track upkeep during this period to support both football and speedway activities, though the phase-out of speedway reduced the need for specialized maintenance thereafter.^[1] In the 2000s, the stadium received targeted improvements for longevity and functionality, including the demolition of the old sports hall between 2000 and 2003 and its replacement with a new facility featuring a 200-meter athletics track, alongside renewal of the main stand's roofing to enhance weather protection and structural safety.^[1] These efforts contributed to broader safety enhancements, preparing the venue for continued professional use amid evolving regulatory standards. A pivotal renovation occurred in 2012 as part of a broader 2010-2012 modernization program, which installed rail seats to enable safe standing areas in compliance with UEFA requirements for European competitions.^[1]^[17] This upgrade, facilitated through a long-term lease agreement between the City of Linz and LASK, improved spectator safety and flexibility while aligning the stadium with international football standards.^[2] Funding for these renovation efforts combined contributions from the City of Linz, LASK, and regional support, reflecting a collaborative public-private model to sustain the venue's viability.^[2] The 2012 changes notably enabled LASK to host UEFA Europa League matches at the stadium from the late 2010s, including notable home wins against teams like PSV Eindhoven and Sporting CP in the 2019-20 season.^[18]

Operational Use

Sports Events

The Linzer Stadion served primarily as a venue for football, acting as the home ground for LASK Linz since its opening in 1952 and also for FC Blau-Weiß Linz, particularly serving as their primary home ground from the late 2000s onward during periods when LASK utilized other venues, with both clubs utilizing it for domestic league matches in the Austrian Bundesliga and lower divisions until the stadium's closure in 2021.^[2]^[19]^[10] Football events at the stadium included regular Austrian Bundesliga fixtures for LASK, such as their promotion-securing matches in the 2010s, and notable international encounters during LASK's European campaigns. For instance, in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds, LASK hosted Beşiktaş for the second leg, winning 2–1 but ultimately eliminated on away goals after a 1–0 first-leg loss.^[20] The venue also accommodated group stage home games in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League, such as a 3–0 victory over Sporting CP, and a 2–0 win over AZ Alkmaar in the round of 32, drawing significant crowds and highlighting the stadium's role in Austria's top-tier European football participation.^[2]^[21]^[22] In its early years, the stadium's athletics track supported motorcycle speedway events until the early 1970s, with the oval facilitating competitive races as part of the facility's multi-sport design. One prominent example was the 1961 Continental Semi-Final for the Individual Speedway World Championship held there on June 17, where German rider Josef Hofmeister topped the standings with 15 points to qualify for the final.^[10] Athletics competitions were a key feature in the stadium's initial decades, hosting local track and field events that leveraged the surrounding running oval until football activities became predominant by the mid-20th century. From 1988 to 2008, it annually staged the Gugl-Meeting, Austria's largest one-day international athletics meet, attracting over 15,000 spectators and featuring elite performances in sprints, jumps, and distance races before transitioning to indoor formats elsewhere.^[10]^[23] Other sports saw limited use at the stadium, with occasional rugby matches and amateur athletic gatherings documented but not forming a central part of its programming.^[24]

Entertainment Events

The Linzer Stadion served as a prominent venue for major international concerts throughout its operational history, hosting performances by globally renowned artists that drew large crowds and showcased its adaptability for large-scale entertainment. These events often required modifications to the stadium's layout, including temporary stage installations at one end and reconfiguration of seating areas to accommodate both seated spectators and expansive standing zones, allowing capacities to exceed the standard football configuration of around 21,000.^[2] One of the earliest high-profile concerts was Michael Jackson's performance on September 6, 1988, during his Bad World Tour, which attracted an audience of 40,000 fans.^[25] The event featured a full setlist from the tour, including hits like "Billie Jean" and "Thriller," and highlighted the stadium's ability to handle elaborate production elements such as lighting and pyrotechnics.^[25] This concert set a benchmark for attendance at non-sporting events, surpassing typical football match turnouts and demonstrating the venue's appeal for pop spectacles. In 1989, Pink Floyd brought their A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour to the stadium on June 23, performing immersive sets with elaborate visual effects and projections that utilized the open-air space effectively. The show, part of the band's post-Roger Waters era, included staples like "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and drew significant crowds, further establishing Linzer Stadion as a key stop for progressive rock tours in Central Europe. The 1990s and early 2000s saw additional rock acts, including Bon Jovi's concert on May 15, 2006, as part of the Have a Nice Day Tour, which filled the venue to its concert capacity of 32,002.^[26] Supported by Nickelback, the performance featured high-energy anthems such as "Livin' on a Prayer," and the full house underscored the stadium's enduring popularity for hard rock events.^[26] Later that year, on June 19, 2007, Genesis reunited for their Turn It On Again Tour at the stadium, delivering a set blending classics like "Land of Confusion" and "Invisible Touch" to an enthusiastic audience.^[27] This event marked one of the band's final major tours with Phil Collins on vocals, attracting fans from across Europe and peaking attendance figures comparable to earlier mega-shows.^[27] These concerts often achieved peak attendances by adapting the stadium's facilities, such as removing sections of pitch barriers for stage setups and enhancing sightlines with elevated platforms, which allowed for crowds larger than standard sporting events while maintaining safety protocols.^[2]

Closure and Legacy

Demolition Process

The Linzer Stadion concluded its operational life at the end of 2020, with the final match taking place on December 16, 2020, when LASK Linz hosted ASK Elektra in the Austrian Cup.^[28] This marked the closure of the venue after nearly seven decades of service, primarily due to its aging and dilapidated infrastructure, which no longer met contemporary standards for professional sports facilities.^[29] The decision to demolish the stadium was driven by the need to construct a modern replacement compliant with UEFA Category 4 requirements, enabling higher-level European competitions, as well as broader urban renewal efforts in central Linz to enhance the city's sporting and community landscape.^[30] Demolition commenced in January 2021, shortly after the final event, with groundbreaking for the successor stadium occurring in the early part of the year.^[31] The dismantling process was completed within approximately two months, by mid-March 2021, allowing for the site to be cleared and prepared for new construction.^[32] While specific phased procedures for removing the stands, athletics track, and other elements were not publicly detailed, the overall effort focused on efficient site clearance to facilitate the immediate start of the new development.^[10] During the transition period encompassing the demolition and subsequent construction, LASK Linz continued its home matches at the TGW Arena in Pasching, a venue the club had utilized as its primary ground since 2016.^[33] This arrangement ensured continuity for the team's Bundesliga and European fixtures through the 2021–22 season, avoiding disruptions amid the site's transformation.^[34]

Successor Stadium

The Raiffeisen Arena serves as the successor to the Linzer Stadion, constructed on the same site following the demolition of the original facility. Opened in February 2023, it represents a modern replacement designed specifically for football, without the athletics track that characterized its predecessor.^[35]^[36] With a total capacity of 19,080 spectators for domestic matches—including approximately 4,500 standing places on the ASK grandstand—the stadium reduces to 17,117 all-seated positions for international fixtures to comply with UEFA regulations. It features contemporary amenities such as 42 skyboxes, business seating for 1,736, and full roof coverage over the standing areas, enhancing spectator comfort and safety. The design adheres to UEFA Category 4 standards, enabling it to host high-level competitions up to Champions League semi-finals.^[36]^[35]^[31] Located on Gugl Hill in Linz's Urfahr district on Froschberg, the arena maintains continuity with the site's footballing heritage as the primary home for LASK Linz and a venue for matches involving Blau-Weiß Linz. This positioning preserves the traditional nickname "Gugl" associated with the hill, fostering a sense of legacy for local supporters.^[36]^[35]^[37]

References

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