http://www.uefa.com/imagescontent/uefa/banners/euro2008.gif
SWITZERLAND

Bâle, St. Jakob-Park.
42 500 places.
http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/competitions/EURO/116183_600X400.jpg

Berne, STADE DE SUISSE Wankdorf.
32 000 places.

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/competitions/EURO/116184_600X400.jpg

Genève Stade de Genève.
31 500 places.

http://www.stade.ch/images/complexe2_05.jpg
http://www.stade.ch/images/complexe/m_stad2.jpg

Zurich Stade Letzigrund.
31 500 places.

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/uefa/UEFAMedia/276833_BIGLANDSCAPE.jpg

AUSTRIA
Innsbruck Stade Tivoli Neu.
30 000 places.
http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/competitions/EURO/116199_600X400.jpg
Klagenfurt Stade Waidmannsdorf.
40 000 places.
http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/competitions/EURO/116201_600X400.jpg

Salzbourg Stade Salzburg.
32 700 places.
http://www.polytan.de/Stadion-Totale-6-600-pix.jpg

Vienne Ernst Happel Stadion.
50 000 places.
http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/takebou/vienna02.jpg

Basel (Switzerland)

http://www.stadiumguide.com/stjakobpark2.jpg

Soon a tower next to the stadium :)

http://www.st-jakob-park-plus.ch/sitegfx/img/img2.jpg
http://www.st-jakob-park-plus.ch/sitegfx/img/img4.jpg
http://www.st-jakob-park-plus.ch/sitegfx/img/img6.jpg

http://twoday.net/static/euro2008/images/euro.jpg

Yep, not until two years but the qualification groups are here.

Group 1
Portugal
Poland
Serbia & Montenegro
Belgium
Finland
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan

Group 2
France
Italy
Ukraine
Scotland
Lithuania
Georgia
Faroe Islands

Group 3
Greece
Turkey
Norway
Bosnia
Hungary
Moldova
Malta

Group 4
Czech Republic
Germany
Slovakia
Ireland
Wales
Cyprus
San Marino

Group 5
England
Croatia
Russia
Israel
Estonia
Macedonia
Andorra.

Group 6
Sweden
Spain
Denmark
Latvia
Iceland
Northern Ireland
Liechtenstein.

Group 7
The Netherlands
Romania
Bulgaria
Slovenia
Albania
Belarus
Luxembourg


And the venues, of course.

Ernst Happel Stadion, Wien
53 295 seats

http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/AUT/Ernst-Happel-Stadion3.jpg
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/AUT/Ernst-Happel-Stadion4.jpg
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/AUT/Ernst-Happel-Stadion_A.jpg


Sankt Jacob Park, Basel
42 500 seats (currently 30 000 seats)

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/st_jakob_park/images/modell_01.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/st_jakob_park/images/360.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/st_jakob_park/images/370.jpg


Stade de Suisse Wankdorf, Bern
31 907 seats

http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/SUI/Wankdorf3.jpg
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/SUI/Wankdorf.jpg
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/SUI/Wankdorf_A.jpg


Wörthersee-Arena, Klagenfurt
31 957 seats

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/waidmannsdorf/images/modell_01.jpg
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/AUT/Waidmannsdorf_neu_A.jpg


Tivoli Stadion, Innsbruck
30 000 seats (currently 17 000 seats)

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/n110.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/100.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/140.jpg


Stade de Genève, Genève
31 600 seats

http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/SUI/Stade_Geneve.jpeg
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/SUI/Stade_Geneve2.jpeg
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/SUI/Stade_Geneve_A.jpeg


Stadion Salzburg, Salzburg
31 020 seats (currently 18 000 seats)

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/em_stadion/images/rb100.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/em_stadion/images/110.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/em_stadion/images/120.jpg


Letzigrund, Zurich
30 000 seats

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/letzigrund/images/modell_04.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/letzigrund/images/modell_05.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/letzigrund/images/modell_06.jpg

Sankt Jacob Park is my favourite... also, the Euro2008 logo reminds me a lot of the Sydney 2000 olympics logo.

hmmm hard to tell, they are not that nice thou maybe Stade de Suisse Wankdorf

Sankt Jacob Park,Basel!
Stadiums are small

The stadiums of Portugal 2004 were much better and nicer i think.

Yeah, compared to da Luz, Dragao, Braga or Alvalade, these stadiums are crap.

I wouldn't say that they are crap, but I also like the stadiums in Portugal a lot more. Remember, St. Jakob Park Basel is from the same architects as the Allianz Arena.
Zurich was supposed to get a fantastic stadium at a different location than the Letzigrund. However, close by resident's objections halted the project. It will still be realized, but after Euro2008.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/Greg8000/zurich.jpg

Actually, the Innsbruck and Salzburg stadiums will be enlarged, so you can't really judge by these pictures.

Stade de Suisse Wankdorf

Oh dear, what a rather unfortunate name

Stade de Suisse Wankdorf

Oh dear, what a rather unfortunate name

Even more unfortunately the team that plays their is known as "Young Boys".

Sankt Jacob Park looks nice but otherwise I'd agree this is definately the worst collection of stadia since the european championships expanded to 16 teams.

I think you could probably string a better set of stadia from the Second Tier of the English League, and probably of many others.

The stadiums of Portugal 2004 were much better and nicer i think.

Don't forget it costed Portugal very, very, very much. There's even one stadium that hasn't been used yet, except for Euro 2004.

Happel!!

edit.

The swiss don't really need them though.

They would end up with half empty stadiums after the tournament.

any Polska played, group A very heavy group

those crappy stadiums are too small :bash:

I can't believe they only have one stadium bigger than 50,000 and two bigger 40,000 for a tournament this exciting and important.

They fulfill the UEFA's needs, so they will satisfy your needs as well. As I have already stated above, the Stadiums in Innsbruck and Salzburg DO look very small, but they both will become twice as big until 2008 by adding additional 15.000 seats. Wait and see!


(And you will not be able to beat the mountain view from the stadium in Innsbruck:)
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/180.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/280.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/290.jpg

maybe some of them have good quality, but honestly all of them look very cheap. including Ernst Happel, which looks very 80's, maybe a very big renovation could do it

Somebody from Austria please tell me why they didn't use Rapid Wien's or Austria Wien's stadium, they're Austria's only real European candidates, right?

Ernst-Happel-Stadion actually has more soul and spirit than all the other stadiums together, a little like a South American Arena...

Well, Martuh, Hanappi-Stadion, Rapid's stadium is too small (18,000) and there is neither space for an enlargement, nor is the neighbourhood suited for such an event. (ie no major roads, lack of parking lots, even though a new garage was opened not to long ago.
Rapid still is my team, though...


http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionlisten/oesterreich/gerhard_hanappi_stadion/110.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionlisten/oesterreich/gerhard_hanappi_stadion/100.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionlisten/oesterreich/gerhard_hanappi_stadion/190.jpg

The Horr-Stadion of Austria (the team all Rapid fans hate!) is ugly and a scar in Vienna's face, even though it is quite easily accessible by the city motorway A23. But same problem here: No parking opportunities, no space. And faaaar from being internationally suitable. (11,800) Both teams have their important int'l games in Happel-Stadion (ie Champions league, UEFA-Cup) Rapid uses the Hanappi-Stadion for preliminary UEFA-Cup matches. The Vienna derby nearly often takes place in the Happel-Stadion as well.

Horr-Stadion:

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionlisten/oesterreich/franz_horr_stadion/180.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionlisten/oesterreich/franz_horr_stadion/230.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionlisten/oesterreich/franz_horr_stadion/150.jpg

Happel-Stadion:

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/ernst_happel_stadion/images/240.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/ernst_happel_stadion/images/100.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/ernst_happel_stadion/images/190.jpg

All good stadiums apart from Zurich. I have been to Sankt Jacob Park,Basel, superb stadium and will be even better after the upgrade. Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern looks superb as well (very famous stadium). Very modern and clean looking stadium. As for the countries, 2 great modern advanced wealthy countries with great architecture and history. The tournament will be superb. I couldn't stand Portugal, it was like being in a 3rd world country. Portugal was dirty, had poor facilities and the organisation from transport to hotels was awful. If you get a chance visit Vienna and Salzburg, 2 of the most amazing cities in the world.

The photos of Stadion Salzburg and Tivoli Stadion Innsbruck are the present stadiums. They will be doubled in size and look totally different by the time the tournament comes around.

The organisation for euro 2004 was less than great I agree but I don't think you can say the stadiums were not a good deal better than these if only in size. I got all the tickets I applied for in Portugal, I doubt the same would be true if I desided to go to this one.

I couldn't stand Portugal, it was like being in a 3rd world country. Portugal was dirty, had poor facilities and the organisation from transport to hotels was awful.

Gee, thanks! Gladly, i doubt the big majority of the fans who came here have that view... UEFA surely didn't think that way ;) I'm sorry my country didn't suit your needs.

Will someone please tell me how this bid was prefered to the Scotland/Ireland bid?This is a major step down from Portugal and there are only two large stadia Ernst Happeol (50k) but with a running track and st jakob park only 42k!!!

Scotland and Ireland on the other hand have,
Croke Park 75,000
Murrayfield 67,500
Celtic Park 60,000
New Lansdowne Road 52,000
Hampden Park 50,000
Ibrox 50,000
+
one other proposed 30,000 seater
I know that proximity and location is the problem but lets face it thats all the Austria/Switzerland bid has going for it!

Will someone please tell me how this bid was prefered to the Scotland/Ireland bid?This is a major step down from Portugal and there are only two large stadia Ernst Happeol (50k) but with a running track and st jakob park only 42k!!!

Scotland and Ireland on the other hand have,
Croke Park 75,000
Murrayfield 67,500
Celtic Park 60,000
New Lansdowne Road 52,000
Hampden Park 50,000
Ibrox 50,000
+
one other proposed 30,000 seater
I know that proximity and location is the problem but lets face it thats all the Austria/Switzerland bid has going for it!

I think UEFA decided that having EURO 2008 in Scotland was too soon after EURO1996 in England and that Scotland shouldna't have bothered bidding in the first place. They also didn't like the GAA's rather hostile attitude towards Football. The GAA own Croke Park.

Personally I thought that the Celtic bid had by far the better stadiums. In fact if Wales was included the lis of facilities would be very, very impressive and even the larger countries like Spain or Italy would struggle to match.

Croke Park 75,000
Millenium Stadium 74,500
Murrayfield 67,500
Celtic Park 60,000
New Lansdowne Road 52,000
Hampden Park 50,000
Tynecastle 30,000+ (after main stand re-built and corners added)
Ibrox 50,000

Will someone please tell me how this bid was prefered to the Scotland/Ireland bid?This is a major step down from Portugal and there are only two large stadia Ernst Happeol (50k) but with a running track and st jakob park only 42k!!!

Scotland and Ireland on the other hand have,
Croke Park 75,000
Murrayfield 67,500
Celtic Park 60,000
New Lansdowne Road 52,000
Hampden Park 50,000
Ibrox 50,000
+
one other proposed 30,000 seater
I know that proximity and location is the problem but lets face it thats all the Austria/Switzerland bid has going for it!


some scottish fans seem to be ignorant :bash: of the reasons why the bid failed, even though i would of like to see it in scotland. Firstly CROKE PARK was NOT included in the bid, secondly you CANT have 3 stadiums in one city(Glasgow), Thirdly UEFA prefer in a jointbid for the countries to share out the venues, so four each.

Gee, thanks! Gladly, i doubt the big majority of the fans who came here have that view... UEFA surely didn't think that way ;) I'm sorry my country didn't suit your needs.

While I'd agree with bubomb that some of the organisation wasnt great(very crowded checkpoints outside the stadiums mainly) I liked the country as a whole alot, espeically the north near the house I rented with some friends/relatives.

01.02.2006 - Dritter Rang der Tribüne C wächst

Obwohl der ersten Spatenstich für den Ausbau des Basler St. Jakob Park bereits am 9. Mai 2005 stattgefunden hatte, blieb die Fortschritte für Stadiongäste lange unsichtbar. Denn die Fundamente des dritten Rangs der Tribüne C wurden hinter und unter den dortigen Traversen und damit außerhalb des Sichtfeldes der Besucher gelegt.
Das Ausmaß der bisherigen Arbeiten zeigte sich erst, als die Bauarbeiter Anfang November in einer Ecke zur Tribüne D hin das Stadiondach abmontierten und erste Zahnbalken des neuen Rangs sichtbar wurden. Inzwischen wurde auch mit der Verlegung erster Fertigbetonelemente für die 18 neuen Sitzreihen mit etwa 7.000 zusätzlichen Sitzplätzen begonnen.
Bei weiterhin planmäßigem Bauablauf soll der dritte Rang mit seiner aus beleuchtbaren, luftgefüllten Folienkissen bestehenden Fassade – ähnlich der Münchner Allianz Arena – im kommenden November fertig gestellt sein. (Stadionwelt, 01.02.2006)

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/images/news/basel_01_02_2006_1.jpg

Source: Stadionwelt.de (http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/index.php?template=news&stadionname=St.-Jakob-Park&stadt=Basel&news_id=1191)

Don't know what's in the message (I barely speak German) but it comes down to; construction of the third tier had started in Basel!

Most of these stadiums are between 30.000 - 40.000. Too small for such a big tournament I think.
And I don't like them, honestly. Except for Tivoli-stadium

but Tivoli-stadium hasn't been built yet!!

Does anybody actually understand that Stadion Salzburg and Tivoli Stadion Innsbruck have not actually been built yet? Those photos are the present stadiums. They will be doubled in size and look totally different by the time the tournament comes around.

some scottish fans seem to be ignorant :bash: of the reasons why the bid failed, even though i would of like to see it in scotland. Firstly CROKE PARK was NOT included in the bid, secondly you CANT have 3 stadiums in one city(Glasgow), Thirdly UEFA prefer in a jointbid for the countries to share out the venues, so four each.


Erm......NO. No Scottish fans are ignorant of why the bid failed, as i'm the only Scottish fan here and those are the reasons I gave for the bid failing in a previous thread. It's non-Scots who are ignorant of why the bid failed.

Erm......NO. No Scottish fans are ignorant of why the bid failed, as i'm the only Scottish fan here and those are the reasons I gave for the bid failing in a previous thread. It's non-Scots who are ignorant of why the bid failed.

Fair enough. I hold my hands up. I'd though it was disorganisation on the Irish side more than anything. And I downloaded the bid pdf too.

Fair enough. I hold my hands up. I'd though it was disorganisation on the Irish side more than anything. And I downloaded the bid pdf too.


The Irish didn't help either. As they had zero definite stadiums in the joint bid. Scotland had 3 definites - 2 in Glasgow and Murrayfield. So it is fair to say that disorganisation by the Irish heavily hindered the bid.

I can't belive Scot/Eire lost to this.
Croke Park should have been made available.
Hopefully with Lansdown Road getting rebuilt we can get another bid in.
We would hav Croke Park, Lansdown Road, Hampden, Murrayfield, Celtic Park & Ibrox which are all over 50,000. If having most of th stadia in one city is problem there is Pittodrie (which may be re-built if we did enter and win), Rugby Park and (if the GAA allow it) Pairc Ui Caoimh and Pearse Stadium. Not but for two small countries.

I can't belive Scot/Eire lost to this.
Croke Park should have been made available.
Hopefully with Lansdown Road getting rebuilt we can get another bid in.
We would hav Croke Park, Lansdown Road, Hampden, Murrayfield, Celtic Park & Ibrox which are all over 50,000. If having most of th stadia in one city is problem there is Pittodrie (which may be re-built if we did enter and win), Rugby Park and (if the GAA allow it) Pairc Ui Caoimh and Pearse Stadium. Not but for two small countries.


but 'may be re-built' is not good enough. UEFA like definite guaranteed plans.

Ireland have zero definite stadiums (Croke Park is not definite as the strange Gaelic people might not allow it to be used, and the stand behind one goal is unusable) and Scotland only has 3 definites (2 in Glasgow, one in Edinburgh). You can only have 2 stadiums in the same city at most.

Heres a nice view of St.Jakobs Park from the outside: :)

http://www.st-jakob-park-plus.ch/sitegfx/img/img6.jpg

It will be a fantastic venue. :yes:

I agree, that the Stadiums for Euro 2008 are on the smaller side. Both Switzerland and Austria are no football fanatics and therefore super-size arenas would be half empty most of the time.
Other countries should also get the chance to host such an event, otherwise it will be permanentely in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain or Portugal.

The Uk has hardly hosted the event actually, only once

the only reason austria and switz got this bid is cos of that crooked fucker sepp blatter. shouldn't he actually be in jail for something or other but his possition has kept him out, a bit like jacque chiraque

Blatter has got nothing to do with UEFA, he is actually very impopular among UEFA members.

The Austrians and the Swiss got it because they had the best bid, much better than the joined Irish/Scottish bid.

crappy stadiums for the second most important footbal tournament of the world..

this is not fair.

What's the big deal about the stadiums!! You only spend about 270 minutes of your 2 week trip in stadiums. It's location that counts, and you cannot get better than Austria/Switzerland. Two of the richest most beautiful countries in the world, with Salzburg and Vienna simply out of this world. You will be spending two weeks surrounded by history, culture, the Alps, stunning scenery, lakes and great weather. You simply cannot get a better location. Would you rather spend a fortnight in some shitty industrial rundown city???

The stadiums are fine anyway (apart from Zurich).

Trust me, I travel to Salzburg every year, it's amazing!!

They fulfill the UEFA's needs, so they will satisfy your needs as well. As I have already stated above, the Stadiums in Innsbruck and Salzburg DO look very small, but they both will become twice as big until 2008 by adding additional 15.000 seats. Wait and see!


Is that for sure. 15000 extra seats for both Innsbruck and Salzburg, making themboth at around 45000?

Is that for sure. 15000 extra seats for both Innsbruck and Salzburg, making themboth at around 45000?

What he meant was that the pictures show the stadiums in its current capacities of around 15.000. They will look quite different once they're upgraded to 30.000.

What he meant was that the pictures show the stadiums in its current capacities of around 15.000. They will look quite different once they're upgraded to 30.000.
Oh, okay...that does make more sence when looking at the pics. Thanks for that...

What's the big deal about the stadiums!! You only spend about 270 minutes of your 2 week trip in stadiums. It's location that counts, and you cannot get better than Austria/Switzerland. Two of the richest most beautiful countries in the world, with Salzburg and Vienna simply out of this world. You will be spending two weeks surrounded by history, culture, the Alps, stunning scenery, lakes and great weather. You simply cannot get a better location. Would you rather spend a fortnight in some shitty industrial rundown city???

The stadiums are fine anyway (apart from Zurich).

Trust me, I travel to Salzburg every year, it's amazing!!

If you don't get any tickets due to the stadiums being so small then I'd guess it would become a problem.

If you don't get any tickets due to the stadiums being so small then I'd guess it would become a problem.


Take away Da Luz and the average size of the stadiums would be almost the exact same as Portugal. The stadiums are smaller because football is less popular in these regions, which means your chances of not getting a ticket due to smaller stadiums will be more than compensated by less local interest. I would say it will be easier to get a ticket in Innsbruck than it would be in Lisbon.

Take away Da Luz and the average size of the stadiums would be almost the exact same as Portugal. The stadiums are smaller because football is less popular in these regions, which means your chances of not getting a ticket due to smaller stadiums will be more than compensated by less local interest. I would say it will be easier to get a ticket in Innsbruck than it would be in Lisbon.

Well, i agree the stadiums are a bit on the small side, but idd rather take a small stadium that is full, then a big one that is only half full. Besides, i believe portugal spend a small fortune building the stadiums for euro 2004, with out a need for them after the turnement was over.

If Uefa really wants a divesity and not just always have the tournement in the big countries like england, germany, francs etc., they also need to accept smaller venues. Besides, if this can work, i could even see Denmark hosting the Euro cop one day.

Well, i agree the stadiums are a bit on the small side, but idd rather take a small stadium that is full, then a big one that is only half full. Besides, i believe portugal spend a small fortune building the stadiums for euro 2004, with out a need for them after the turnement was over.

If Uefa really wants a divesity and not just always have the tournement in the big countries like england, germany, francs etc., they also need to accept smaller venues. Besides, if this can work, i could even see Denmark hosting the Euro cop one day.

Yes, the more diverse the locations for football tournaments the better. Holding it in Germany, England or Spain all the time is preaching to the converted. If you want to develop and spread the sport, then you have to go to new less traditional locations.

some scottish fans seem to be ignorant :bash: of the reasons why the bid failed, even though i would of like to see it in scotland. Firstly CROKE PARK was NOT included in the bid, secondly you CANT have 3 stadiums in one city(Glasgow), Thirdly UEFA prefer in a jointbid for the countries to share out the venues, so four each.

I never said croke park was included in the bid smartass, and also i know that u cant have more than 2 stadiums from one city because i said that "proximity is the only problem". the point i making was that at times uefa has got its priorities all mixed up it has gone for countries with smaller worse quality stadia.Many of which are not even built yet unlike in Scotland and Ireland

Will this stadiums be renovated or rebuilded??? For eg Vienne is maybe OK, but for Euro it should be more modernized.

whats with the english stadiums spam?

Yes, the more diverse the locations for football tournaments the better. Holding it in Germany, England or Spain all the time is preaching to the converted. If you want to develop and spread the sport, then you have to go to new less traditional locations.
Yeah, that was kinda the point i was making....

I never said croke park was included in the bid smartass, and also i know that u cant have more than 2 stadiums from one city because i said that "proximity is the only problem". the point i making was that at times uefa has got its priorities all mixed up it has gone for countries with smaller worse quality stadia.Many of which are not even built yet unlike in Scotland and Ireland

No, the Austria/Switzerland bid was far better. Definite stadiums, great organisational skills and superb countries to visit with some of the best transport facilities in the world. The Scotland/Ireland bid was all if's and maybe's and was a total mess. It was a complete shambles of a bid and as a result was knocked out at the first round!!

There was zero suitable stadiums in Ireland and no concrete plans at the time to build one!! It was a pathetic attempt at a bid!!

There was zero suitable stadiums in Ireland and no concrete plans at the time to build one!! It was a pathetic attempt at a bid!!

Agreed. It was a bit of a joke, a good convincing case may have been possible to have been made, but none was. Scotland and Ireland are worthy tourist destinations and both very beautiful, but when it comes to the football infrastructure, it just wasn't there. Likewise a number of the other bids - the Scandinavian one was just crazy, four countries hosting one tournament.

Likewise a number of the other bids - the Scandinavian one was just crazy, four countries hosting one tournament.
Now that I can agree with. And i can tell you noone here was really that crazy about the bid, and we thank god everyday that the bid lost. It would have been a nightmare of monumental porportions, and UEFA thankfully saw that...

Idd still like to see Danmark host it one day on its own. It will take some work, though no more then the current 2008 bid has to go through...

No, the Austria/Switzerland bid was far better. Definite stadiums, great organisational skills and superb countries to visit with some of the best transport facilities in the world. The Scotland/Ireland bid was all if's and maybe's and was a total mess. It was a complete shambles of a bid and as a result was knocked out at the first round!!

There was zero suitable stadiums in Ireland and no concrete plans at the time to build one!! It was a pathetic attempt at a bid!!

I would say Scotland were bidding with an Imaginary JointBid because the Irish weren't upto much.

Now that I can agree with. And i can tell you noone here was really that crazy about the bid, and we thank god everyday that the bid lost. It would have been a nightmare of monumental porportions, and UEFA thankfully saw that...

Idd still like to see Danmark host it one day on its own. It will take some work, though no more then the current 2008 bid has to go through...

Denmark only has two stadiums to host: Parken and Brondby.

I would say Scotland were bidding with an Imaginary JointBid because the Irish weren't upto much.

The failure of the bid cannot just be blamed on the irish. Afterall, both countries knew the circumstances they were in before going ahead with a joint bid. They should have organised the bid better with each other and been more co-ordinated. It was probably the wrong time for these two countries to make a joint-bid. They should have waited to bid for a games until they were more or less sure they were going to win.

jacob park looks nice from the outside

Take away Da Luz and the average size of the stadiums would be almost the exact same as Portugal. The stadiums are smaller because football is less popular in these regions, which means your chances of not getting a ticket due to smaller stadiums will be more than compensated by less local interest. I would say it will be easier to get a ticket in Innsbruck than it would be in Lisbon.

The population of both hosts combined is almost double portugals plus they'll have alot more disposable income to spend so I doubt it will be as easy to pickup tickets(I got everything I went for offically in 2004). Also while Da Luz is only one stadium it hosted 5 games so its impact on the number of tickets available was significant.

Yes, the more diverse the locations for football tournaments the better. Holding it in Germany, England or Spain all the time is preaching to the converted. If you want to develop and spread the sport, then you have to go to new less traditional locations.

If this bid was the best organised(rather than the one with the best political backing in UEFA) then fair play to them but I think that using the european championships and world cup as mere footballing PR exersizes diminishes their importance. I don't think you can underestimate the positive effect they can have in a large established nation either, getting people back into the game and building on existsing support is afterall easier than trying to bring in totally new fans.

Yes, the more diverse the locations for football tournaments the better. Holding it in Germany, England or Spain all the time is preaching to the converted. If you want to develop and spread the sport, then you have to go to new less traditional locations.

Personally I'll be very dissapointed if Euro2012 or at the very least 2016 doesn't go east.

Denmark only has two stadiums to host: Parken and Brondby.
at the moment yeah, but there are other that could be opgraded and renovated. An one or perhaps two new build, then we are there. I didnt say it was easy, but it wont be impossible...And not when you look at the work they are doing for the euro 2008

Personally I'll be very dissapointed if Euro2012 or at the very least 2016 doesn't go east.
how far east?

The failure of the bid cannot just be blamed on the irish. Afterall, both countries knew the circumstances they were in before going ahead with a joint bid. They should have organised the bid better with each other and been more co-ordinated. It was probably the wrong time for these two countries to make a joint-bid. They should have waited to bid for a games until they were more or less sure they were going to win.

Yes it can, the Irish were useless!!

whats with the english stadiums spam?

on reflection i agree and i've deleted that post - it was disrespectful to the purpose of the thread.

The population of both hosts combined is almost double portugals plus they'll have alot more disposable income to spend so I doubt it will be as easy to pickup tickets(I got everything I went for offically in 2004). Also while Da Luz is only one stadium it hosted 5 games so its impact on the number of tickets available was significant.



If this bid was the best organised(rather than the one with the best political backing in UEFA) then fair play to them but I think that using the european championships and world cup as mere footballing PR exersizes diminishes their importance. I don't think you can underestimate the positive effect they can have in a large established nation either, getting people back into the game and building on existsing support is afterall easier than trying to bring in totally new fans.

I cannot think of a better location than Austria/Switzerland. I would much rather visit these 2 countries than some crappy industrial city. History, culture, wealth, the Alps, stunning lakes, sophisticated people....that's why I visit Salzburg every year!! Not a chav or ned in sight!

Even if I don't get a ticket, I won't be that bothered as I will be so busy enjoying what these countries have to offer.

Out of all the bids AUstria Switzerland was the right choice. If they had a rival bid challenging them then may be i wouldn't have the same view but they were the best of the bunch.

I agree - the other bids seemed to be terrible.

Which other bids? I know Switzerland-Austria, Scotland-Ireland, but what more? Poland-Ukraine? Italy? Croatia?

Then enlargement of the St. Jakob Park from 30`000 to 40`000 seats is under
construction. The facade is similar like the one from the Allianz Arena in Munich.

http://www.st-jakob-park-plus.ch/
http://www.baselunited.ch/images/webcam/stjakobone/live/current.jpg

Basel isnt a great place to spend time but the stadium looks cool. I do think the stadiums are maybe too small, a bigger one in Zurich and maybe capacity improvements in Vienna mightve helped.

Perhaps another idea is to assign grounds to teams after the draw so the big games involving teams with fans who travel (like England, Holland etc) can go the bigger stadiums.

Still Im sure it will be a well organised tournament and a success,

I would go to Austria-Switzerland in 2008. I really love Basel stadium

These are all rubbish.

They are all crap.

They are all piss poor. A joint bid comprising 8 shyte stadiums!

Ireland you let us down.

Since they are increasing the capacity for alot of the stadiums, wouldnt they end up being white elephants?

']They are all crap.
thats a bit harsh

Newest pictures from the St. Jakob Park plus (extension)

http://www.fcb.ch/media/Albums/album556/0080_G.jpg

http://www.fcb.ch/media/Albums/album556/0286_G.jpg

why the hell is Euro 2008 being held in Austria/Switzerland; who gives a toss for these countries, these stadiums are also crap.

why not have it in Scotland, Spain or Italy

why the hell is Euro 2008 being held in Austria/Switzerland; who gives a toss for these countries, these stadiums are also crap.

why not have it in Scotland, Spain or Italy

Why the hell aren`t you informed well about the situation and wrote so much stupid things inside the forum? In fact for you unknowing guy: Anno 2002 when was the bid for the Euro2008, Scotland/Ireland had a to weak application for this event, Spain and Italy didn`t stand as a candidate. Therefore objectively, Austria and Switzerland was the best application, in fact. Small and unsensational maybe, but most solid.

yeah, give 'm a chance, They are both countries with (some) footballtradition.
i think it will be something like 2000 when Belgium and Netherlands did a combined thing. wasn't that bad no?

I quite like the Ernst Happel stadium. Looks like a traditional stadium. I'm not a big fan of all these flash new plain stadia.

They don't need large stadiums in Austria and Switzerland. Take a look at their league attendances:

Attendances Switzerland (http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/current/avesui.htm)

Attendances Austria - choose on left side! (http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn.htm)

They should join their leagues to get some more quality and higher attendances.

Compare the numbers to England or Germany:

England Attendances - choose on left side! (http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn.htm)

Germany Attendances (http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/current/aveger.htm)

With larger stadiums in the alpes many would only be filled 30 to 50 %.

who gives a toss for these countries

I better rest my case. :cheers:

@ davidkunz/VIE: Can you please edit your post and make it smaller? Just using up space with nothing in it is somewhat useless. :ohno:

Aside from that: I think Austria / Switzerland was a good decision. Like the World Cup in Germany this means that Euro 2008 is in the heart of Europe and can be reached easily from many countries. I'm sure it'll be a good tournament.

(some) footballtradition

Austria was by far the best team of the twenties. Once people used to refer to Brazilian footballers as "Southamerican Austrians". Austria finished in third position in 1954 and I suppose some of you might recall names like Happel, Krankl, Prohaska, Schachner or, more recently, Herzog, Polster, Konsel, Kühbauer or Manninger. Three teams reached four EC finals during the eighties and nineties. I'd call that pretty good for a country of Austria's size. We are just unlucky with the low standard we have these days and the amount of Non-Austrians in our domestic leagues who take the places of young Austrian players who actually might develop into something big. Which was recently displayed in the U19 EC in Poland with Austria reaching the semifinals. Germany, Italy, France or didn't even qualify. Who knows? The future might be just as bright for Austrian football as the past and the Euro is an ideal platform for that.
Keep those names in mind: Hoffer, Kavlak, Kuru. :)

Lets hope the investment on new stadia is notspoilt by white eleephants post tournament - as league attendances would suggest.

But a successful tournament could trigger or boost the domestc football in apositive way.
Like anything, its speculating to accumulate.

Sorry, but these stadiums are crap, the stadiums of Euro in Portugal 2004, were much better but for countries as the Switzerland and Austria are good stadiums!

My favorite stadium is Sankt Jacob Park in Basel, looks like a modern and original stadium!

thats a bit harsh
Well its my opinion and many people agree.

Some cross-section renderings of the Salzburg Stadium:


http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/em_stadion/images/sa170.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/em_stadion/images/sa180.jpg


The current development in Innsbruck:
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/umbau_050806_02.jpg

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/umbau_050806_01.jpg

Finally they're turning into Euro stadiums. :D

Newest pictures from the St. Jakob Park plus (extension)

http://www.fcb.ch/media/Albums/album556/0080_G.jpg

http://www.fcb.ch/media/Albums/album556/0286_G.jpg

Looking good, if the stadium would have three tiers all around it would look fantastic although it would be way too big for FC Basel (judging by its attendances - 21,806 on average last season - they don't really need this expansion anyway).

Too bad about those pillars though. You would think that they can build roofcontructions without pillars these days but many stadiums that get renovated or expanded are still stuck with them (Berlin, Heerenveen).

Too bad about those pillars though.

Too much of them.

Looking good, if the stadium would have three tiers all around it would look fantastic although it would be way too big for FC Basel (judging by its attendances - 21,806 on average last season - they don't really need this expansion anyway).


Yeah it would be great if you would have 3 tiers going all around it.
I think the stadium looks great so far.
Just a bit of a shame that they had to built in so many pillars.

Looking good, if the stadium would have three tiers all around it would look fantastic although it would be way too big for FC Basel (judging by its attendances - 21,806 on average last season - they don't really need this expansion anyway).


FC Basel 1893

from http://www.rotblau.ch/

national league
Average spectators season 2002/2003: 26531
Average spectators season 2003/2004: 27886
Average spectators season 2004/2005: 24928

champions league
Average spectators season 2002/2003: 29500

There are about 10`000 to 20`000 core fans in Basel, who support his club in every situation, if they play good or also bad. But there exists also a lot of people (which are called by us: "Mode Fans" = fashion fans) who are interested in FC Basel, when they are succesfull, win a lot of times and if they play in the champions league like 2002/2003, summary more than 30`000 peoples. I think for some of this games they could sold more than 60`000 cards or so. In former times in the old St. Jakob stadium there were also games with 42`000 spectators.
You are right, for the moment, the stadium is a little bit to great designed, but if they are succesfull, sometimes in the year the stadium could be sold out.
Also the main reason of the stadium expansion was the Euro 2008 and for games of the swiss national team.

As an England fan, I wont except anything less then playing all our games in the two biggest capacity stadiums. 30,000 seater stadiums just arent big enough to host a European Championship anymore.

Is there any chance that there will be a Swizz Austria competition for clubs in the future. Would make a nice league MOP.

Maybe Swizz+Auzz could joint-bid for a football league, and push the UEFA as well as Hol+Bel.

the new 3rd tier is very steep
42°!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4475/unbenanntle6.jpg

new pics from the Tivoli in Innsbruck:

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/umbau_020906_03.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/umbau_020906_04.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/umbau_020906_06.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/umbau_020906_10.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/umbau_190806_01.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/umbau_190806_02.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/templates/stadionguides/euro_2008/neues_tivoli_stadion/images/umbau_190806_03.jpg

That's cool that they are still able to use the stadium, while it's being renovated.

Too bad that these new stands will be removed after the euro 2008. but on the other side there is no need for stadiums of that size in austria after the tournament.

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/4397/dsc00157bsy9.jpg

all of them are boring!!

some new Pics from the St.Jakobs Park:

http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/images/news/basel_260906_01.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/images/news/basel_260906_02.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/images/news/basel_260906_03.jpg
http://www.stadionwelt.de/stadionwelt_stadien/images/news/basel_260906_06.jpg

What the hell?

It's only some 500 days to go and this thread is literally dead when at the same time people are speculating about 2018 world cups in Colombia or Canada???

The current state of Klagenfurt's Wörtherseestadion:
http://service.it-wms.com/klagenfurt2/archive/2006/12/20/pan_2006-12-20-0900_1.jpg

What it'll look like:
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/2176/klu1po0.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5448/klu2wk7.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9775/klu3gy1.jpg


My pictures of Salzburg's Wals-Siezenheim stadium,taken in July. (Not very representative of the actual progress.)
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4835/szg1sx7.jpg

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/9959/szg2fs6.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/762/szg3fg7.jpg

Finally, something about Wörtherseestadion! Thanks.

The problem with this thread is the lack of photo updates.

I suppose so....
I'll try my best but in Vienna there isn't much to keep you updated about since allthe work done to the stadiums is not spectacular at all. This site really needs some Tyrolean, Carinthian and Salzburgian members.


But on www.woertherseestadion.at you can find a live webcam including an archive.

Thanks a lot. ;)

some awesome stadia here..esp the one with the construction pic

Once I've figured out where my USB cable has gone, I'll post new pictures of the Happelstadion.

The current state of Klagenfurt's Wörtherseestadion:
http://service.it-wms.com/klagenfurt2/archive/2006/12/20/pan_2006-12-20-0900_1.jpg

What it'll look like:
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/2176/klu1po0.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5448/klu2wk7.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9775/klu3gy1.jpg



awesome

Finally!


It's definitely ugly but that is why I love it so much. It's got character, it's got style and history. More so than any other of the Euro2008 stadiums.

http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/411/001qm6.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3797/002yd5.jpg

http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/1331/003lf6.jpg

http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/682/004zu7.jpg

A concrete colossus.
http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/7752/005zo4.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2633/006oy1.jpg

As close as I could get to the pitch...>(
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8073/007ti9.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2198/008cc4.jpg

The new Metro station (u/c). From early 2008 the extended line U2 will link the stadium with the city centre (including the "Fanmeile".)
It's going to be the most important infrastructure project in the stadium's vicinity. At the moment the stadium is only accessible via a tram line (21) and a bus line (84A).
http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/6664/009ps6.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5606/010dp5.jpg

The view from Vienna's ferris wheel:
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7666/011lo7.jpg

Hope you enjoy.

My Innsbruck pictures from mid-September. Probably a lot has changed since.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/559/t01to7.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8277/t02df2.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6628/t03um9.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/520/t04rf2.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4485/t05bb6.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/4857/t06ok3.jpg

Stade de Suisse Wankdorf, Bern.

Not a fantastic stadium but it will probably have a great atmosphere.

I can't understand why you people all cry against the stadia's size!

Comparison (hope the www.stadiumguide.com data are right):

Euro 2000 | Euro 2004 | Euro 2008
==========================
...51.200.......65.000.......53.000...
...51.100.......52.000.......42.500...
...50.000.......52.000.......32.000...
...36.500.......30.300.......31.900...
...30.000.......30.200.......31.600...
...30.000.......30.000.......31.000...
...29.200.......30.000.......30.000...
...26.600.......30.000.......30.000...
...................30.000...................
...................29.900...................
===========øAVG===========
...38.075.......37.940.......35.250...

They are not much smaller than the stadia before, maybe just a second bigger one is missing, but that's ok, I can live with that :)

Gelredome had a capacity of almost 30,000 at Euro 2000, not its current 26,600.

Salzburg's Wals-Siezenheim, the only rendering I could find:

http://www.salzburg.gv.at/pic_stad_innenraum.jpg

Some smaller pictures from Klagenfurt:

http://static2.orf.at/vietnam2/images/site/oesterreich/200648/stadion1_300x226_big.jpg

http://static2.orf.at/vietnam2/images/site/oesterreich/200648/stadion_bau_big.jpg

Some more Klagenfurt impressions:

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/2059/k001gn8.jpg

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/4520/k002kw0.jpg

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/5199/k003nm0.jpg

Older pics:
http://de.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/competitions/EURO/471017_BIGLANDSCAPE.jpg

The most recent picture from Salzburg that I could find:
http://static.flickr.com/139/318592658_a87aed7b9a_m.jpg

Le Stade de Suisse, Bern:

http://www.uefa-archiv.de/Stadien/bern.jpg

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/8960/b001rc8.jpg

http://www.erco.com/projects/proj_controls/stade_de_su_2433/images/eur_erco_stade_de_su_intro_1_0.jpg

http://www.euro08.basel.ch/pictures/full/18369/stade-de-suisse.jpg



Letzigrund, Zürich:

http://www.euro08.basel.ch/pictures/full/18370/stadion_letzigrund_zuerich.jpg

http://www1.sf.tv/piccache/webtool/data/pics/sportdiashow/fu_letzineubau4_dia_w_h347_m.jpg

http://www.proletzigrund.ch/images/Bild_Letzigrund_Nacht.jpg



Stade de Genève:

http://www.stade.ch/images/complexe/m_stad2.jpg

http://www.stade.ch/images/complexe/m_stad3.jpg

http://www.euro08.basel.ch/pictures/full/18368/stade_de_geneve.jpg

nice stadiums I have to say, and a good thing is that the mayority are football stadiums.
Does any one know if Austria and Switserland have planns for combined competitions?

There have been talks every now and then about a joint league but I believe there's nothing on the horizon.

Yes but demand to see these events is much larger now.

A few more Salzburg renderings:

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/board/uploads/1163963769/gallery__51_62713.jpg

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/board/uploads/1163963769/gallery__51_31388.jpg

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/board/uploads/1163963769/gallery__51_1488.jpg

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/board/uploads/1163963769/gallery__51_153052.jpg

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/board/uploads/1163963769/gallery__51_87323.jpg

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/board/uploads/1163963769/gallery__51_65523.jpg

Cool pictures!

Woher sind die?

Don't know where they are originaly from, but found them at: http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com (http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/board/index.php)

Well, that's a place I don't usually visit...



;-)
Denn hier regiert der SCR...

Hello together first times sorry for my bad English! I read and had nearly everything of euro 2008 of stage that to only head-vibrate! Those are not clear stadium most beautiful and largest however them are always enough for Switzerland and austria. And if we talk about the tickets it always too few will give. Before in Germany are final more than 200,000 inquire come for tickets. And if we may speak about stadium we to ask oneself whether we wm only in the USA to organize that those to have more big stadium than all different. And sorry those Swiss have with the Wm proven that it füssball inspired are! One should speak after the Em about it which not well wär not more voher! I find those to stadium in Switzerland and austria madly kelin however fine and her finalspeak the standard uefa of the 30,000 spectators and it must 8 stadium be. :ohno:

Stade de suisse - Wandkorf for me.

Stade de Suisse Wankdorf

Oh dear, what a rather unfortunate name

Even more unfortunately the team that plays their is known as "Young Boys".

Sankt Jacob Park looks nice but otherwise I'd agree this is definately the worst collection of stadia since the european championships expanded to 16 teams.


Thanks a lot. FAR too much information

Klagenfurt definitely is about to get a great stadium...

(Even though they don't deserve it.)

http://service.it-wms.com/klagenfurt2/archive/2007/01/11/pan_2007-01-11-0900_1.jpg

The metro station at the Happel-Stadion in Vienna that is being built and planned to open in 2008:
http://www.wstw.at/WienerStadtWerke/IMAGE/20011024/66001315_3.jpg

Found on euro2008.com (www.euro2008.com)

Stadium work 'on track' for EURO
Friday, 19 January 2007
by Mark Chaplin
from Nyon

e-mailPrint

Whether it be stadium construction work, renovation or venue-related planning, preparations at the eight UEFA EURO 2008™ stadiums - Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Vienna in Austria, and Basle, Berne, Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland - are bang on course.

Thorough fine-tuning
All stadium elements are being thoroughly fine-tuned to ensure that, among others, the fans, VIP guests, service providers, broadcasters and security authorities can experience a trouble-free EURO in the two Alpine countries. We asked the UEFA Euro 2008 SA organising company's head of operations, Colin Smith, for his view on the state of preparations in the stadium sector.

uefa.com: How are things progressing on the stadium front at the start of 2007?

Colin Smith: Construction work is on track. Two new stadiums are being built in Klagenfurt and Zurich, development work has taken place in Basle, with one extra tier being added and inaugurated for the recent Switzerland-Brazil friendly, and extra tiers are being constructed in Innsbruck and Salzburg to bring their capacities up to 30,000.

uefa.com: Will the EURO stadium capacities be maintained or reduced after 2008?

Smith: Klagenfurt will reduce to a 12,000-seater stadium after the tournament. There are ongoing discussions in Innsbruck and Salzburg as to the potential interest and need to maintain the larger capacities for future events.

uefa.com: There has been some debate about stadium capacities of 30,000 for a EURO final round. What is your view?

Smith: It is clear that for a UEFA European Championship, the larger the stadium, the more demand we can fulfil, because the demand is there for spectators to come and watch matches. However, the stadium has to be a lasting legacy and has to be usable afterwards. The cities and clubs are in the best position to assess the real capacity that they need post-EURO, to ensure that they have well-functioning stadiums with a suitable capacity, rather than being left with excess capacity, extra costs etc.

uefa.com: What sort of work is going on behind the scenes in an operational sense?

Smith: In order to manage planning, we have set up a structure which enables us to communicate directly with the cities, the police, transport authorities and the stadiums, in the form of the venue management working group. We meet every two to three months at every venue, and that allows us to maintain close co-operation with regards to all areas of planning.

uefa.com: As far as preparations in this sector are concerned, what comparison can be drawn with 2004 in Portugal?

Smith: Our set-up is much further advanced. We originally went out to Portugal two years before the event and had to set up an organising company at the same time. So this time, we've had a longer head-start. We also have groups of people who were involved in Portugal, so we've been able to take on board what they have learned. I think we are also co-ordinating more closely with the authorities this time - they have a clearer view of what we are doing inside the venues.

uefa.com: The stadiums in Switzerland are located in built-up areas. What solutions are being sought?

Smith: We have to be creative with the requirements, which are obviously beyond normal domestic and international matches - with television compounds, for example. Zurich is an example of an urban stadium, so here, we are working with the traffic authorities and police in order to use surrounding streets and areas to help deliver requirements to various target groups and to offer a service to the fans.

uefa.com: What are the next milestones?

Smith: Ensuring that stadiums are finished on time in 2007, and ensuring that we can start hosting matches in stadiums for observation and test purposes. These are areas that we would obviously like to check in an operational sense.

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

Vienna will be a nice place for Germany to win its 4th euro title.

St.Jakobpark by Herzog and DeMeron is fantastic, but Klagenfurt and Zurich will look great as well I guess. The latter is only 2km away from home and I see every day it's development. ;)

Letzigrund is the most special design of the eight. Together with Happel the only one to "stick out".

Happel isn't special in anyway, it seems they're giving it minor revisions but it needs some proper renovations and a new design, and Letzigrund has an athletics track, so it's completely stupid to use it as a international football venue

What would Letzigrund be WITHOUT athletics tracks? ;)

those crappy stadiums are too small :bash:

How did they win the bid with so many crappy small stadia? Bribes?

No, with a solid bid.

Gotta say that Vienna should have built a big stadium. In the region of 60k maybe.
Portugal which is a much poorer country has managed to built some great venues.
I dont know why its not possible to built at least one big stadium in Austria.

Is there really a need for that after the tournament? Unlike Portugal, Austria and Switzerland seem pragmatic. Don't build what you don't need.

Austria can't even fill the ErnHaSta (awesome abbreviation) for international games. They don't need a 60,000 seater. Some stadiums do look a bit crappy though.

Austria can fill the stadium for some games.

Austria can fill the stadium for some games.

Thats what I think aswell.
An attractive stadium would automatically attract bigger crowds.
And Im sure that they could fill it for some games of the national squad.
Vienna couldve then hosted a CL or UEFA final at some point.
A city like Vienna just needs a modern stadium.
The Ernst Happel is just outdated and not suited for a Euro final.

The Happel-Stadium is typically Viennese:
Old, ugly, dirty but oh so lovely. ;)

From euro2008.com (www.euro2008.com)

Swiss cities sign Charter
Tuesday, 23 January 2007
e-mailPrint

The four Swiss host cities for UEFA EURO 2008™ today signed a Host City Charter which sets out their rights and obligations ahead of a final tournament they will share with neighbours Austria.

Teamwork
Representatives of Zurich (where the ceremony was held), Basle, Berne and Geneva inked the agreement with UEFA and Euro 2008 SA, a UEFA subsidiary, this morning. Ralph M Zloczower, president of the Swiss Football Association and member of the Euro 2008 SA board of administration, said: "The better the teamwork, the better the results; this applies not just to a football team, but also to the organisers of a major event such as the UEFA European Championship. We are delighted to have agreed all the details of our co-operation with the Swiss host cities."

Responsibilities
Martin Kallen, chief operating officer of Euro 2008 SA, explained the details of the Charter. "To put it simply, this means the host cities will take responsibility for the planning, organisation and implementation of the fan zones," he said. "We will share the costs and offer the host cities advertising space in the stadiums and on TV, as well as complimentary and paid-for match tickets."

Fan zones
The point about the fan zones is especially important, after the impact of the big screens at the FIFA World Cup. "Following the massive success of the fan zones in Germany, we had to rethink and recalculate the dimensions of the fan zones," said Swiss tournament director Christian Mutschler. "But the agreement we have negotiated represents a very fair compromise."

Zurich momentum
Zurich mayor Elmar Ledergerber added: "We are pleased and proud that after lengthy and sometimes tough, but always constructive, negotiations we have reached an agreement that everyone is happy with, and particularly that UEFA and Euro 2008 SA have granted our requests for public viewings and ticket allocations for our local population. This momentum will help us as we continue preparations in the city of Zurich."

Berne ambitions
Alexander Tschäppät, mayor of Berne, declared: "Our objective remains a comparatively small but excellent EURO 2008™ in Berne, with the wonderful backdrop provided by the world heritage site of the old city of Berne and a unique public viewing venue in front of the Bundeshaus [parliament building] with hospitable and enthusiastic people."

Geneva focus
Mark Muller, representative of the Geneva canton, said: "We can only welcome this agreement, which has many advantages for Geneva. This charter forms the basis for fruitful co-operation between all the host cities and UEFA. As the only French-speaking host city, Geneva will be the focus for the whole of western Switzerland and neighbouring regions of France."

Basle festival
Hanspeter Gass, a member of the cantonal government of Basle, confirmed: "The negotiations were not always easy. However, this agreement represents an important milestone in the preparations for EURO 2008™ in Basle. Together with Euro 2008 SA, we will now push forward at top speed in order to create the best possible conditions for a unique and peaceful football festival in Basle."

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

From euro2008.com (www.euro2008.com)
Austrian cities pen Charter
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
e-mailPrint

The four Austrian host cities for UEFA EURO 2008™ followed the lead of their Swiss counterparts by signing the co-operation agreement, the Host City Charter, with UEFA and its subsidiary Euro 2008 SA at Vienna City Hall this evening.

Responsibilities
The agreement outlines the rights and obligations of the host cities - Vienna, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Innsbruck - and arrangements for joint project implementation. Martin Kallen, chief operating officer of Euro 2008 SA, said: "This means the host cities will take responsibility for the planning, organisation and implementation of the fan zones. We will share the costs and offer the host cities advertising space in the stadiums and televisions schedules, as well as complimentary and purchase tickets for matches."

Fan zones
Austrian tournament director Christian Schmölzer was pleased with the agreement and revealed the extensive planning needed to accommodate the popular fan zones. He said: "Following the massive success of the fan zones in Germany, we had to rethink and recalculate the dimensions of the fan zones after the [FIFA] World Cup. But the agreement we have negotiated represents a very fair compromise."

Teamwork
Friedrich Stickler, chairman of the Euro 2008 SA board of administration and president of the Austrian Football Association, expressed his delight at the ratification, saying: "The better the teamwork, the better the results. This applies not just to a football team, but also to the organisers of a major event such as the UEFA European Championship. We are delighted to have agreed all the details of our co-operation with all eight host cities, including those in Switzerland."

Vienna anticipation
Dr Michael Häupl, mayor of Vienna, looked forward to staging matches in the Austrian capital, saying: "With the signing of the Host City Charter, Vienna can look forward to EURO 2008 with great pride and anticipation. This major sports event is already putting our city in the international football spotlight. As hosts, we will be trying to ensure that our guests can enjoy the special Viennese spirit in a relaxed, peaceful and friendly atmosphere and so have fond memories of our city."

Klagenfurt pride
Klagenfurt mayor Harald Scheucher sounded a similar note in advance of the tournament in two summers' time, when even more visitors are expected in his city: "Klagenfurt is a proud and charming host city in the Alpine-Adriatic region. It is home to one of the tournament stadiums and is famous for providing a perfect link between sport and leisure, relaxation and quality of life. More than 200,000 visitors experience this every year at the Kärnten Ironman Austria events and Beach Volleyball Grand Slam tournaments."

Salzburg festival
Dr Heinz Schaden, mayor of Salzburg, admitted to being a huge supporter of the fan parks. He said: "The public viewings of World Cup matches in Salzburg were a great success. We will therefore be creating a fan zone, complete with big screen, in the city centre during the UEFA European Championship and I am sure the atmosphere will be fantastic again. Three group matches will be staged in the Salzburg stadium and many fans will be coming to the city. The tournament will be a magnificent festival for the people of Salzburg and our guests and will give them many great memories."

Innsbruck atmosphere
Finally, the mayor of Innsbruck, Hilde Zach, highlighted the importance of the agreement between the cities and UEFA. She said: "The Host City Charter is the outward sign of the partnership between the city of Innsbruck and UEFA EURO 2008. We are looking forward to making this partnership work and creating a superb atmosphere for EURO 2008 in Innsbruck."

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

Don't think we've had this one before:
Innsbruck's Tivoli:
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/finals08/315897_biglandscape.jpg

Together with the slogan "Expect Emotions.", the host city logos were launched today, 500 days before the first match:

Vienna (Ferris Wheel)
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/e08-news/499910_bigportrait.jpg

Klagenfurt (Lindwurm/dragon statue)
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/e08-news/499913_bigportrait.jpg

Salzburg (Hohensalzburg fortress)
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/e08-news/499914_bigportrait.jpg

Innsbruck (Golden roof)
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/e08-news/499920_bigportrait.jpg

Zürich (along the Limmat)
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/e08-news/499924_bigportrait.jpg

Basel
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/e08-news/499926_bigportrait.jpg

Bern (Zytgloggeturm)
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/e08-news/499927_bigportrait.jpg

Geneva (Jet d'eau)
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/e08-news/499928_bigportrait.jpg

Another rendering of the St.Jakobs Park

http://www.baumagazin.ch/bild/st.jakobsturm.jpg

Are there any recent pics from the stadium?
I guess that it should be finished by now.

Looks like a brothel to me.

Are there any recent pics from the stadium?
I guess that it should be finished by now.

I hate Stadionwelt. How dare they charge you for their site now. :rant:

^^ My thoughts exactly...

Looks like a brothel to me.



Good, that will attract bigger crowds.

Another Klagenfurt update:

http://service.it-wms.com/klagenfurt2/big_panorama1.jpg

The stadium's neighbourhood, typical residential area (without NIMBYs, though):
http://service.it-wms.com/klagenfurt2/big_panorama2.jpg

From euro2008.com (www.euro2008.com)

Klagenfurt unveils traffic concept
Monday, 29 January 2007
by Christian Rosenzopf

e-mailPrint

The city of Klagenfurt has unveiled new transport plans to ease supporters' passage to, and from, the Wörthersee Stadium at UEFA EURO 2008™.

Careful consideration
With the state capital of Austria's Carinthia region hosting three games at the finals, the local authorities have been working for more than a year to devise a system to enable fans to travel in, and out, of the city with minimal inconvenience. Klagenfurt mayor Harald Scheucher and deputies Walter Zwick and Ewald Wiedenbauer have now presented the preliminary plans.

Shuttle buses
Under the proposal, a network of shuttle buses will link the railway station and airport to the stadium ensuring supporters can reach the venue easily, while the Austrian rail service is in negotiations with the city about opening an additional rail platform near the stadium. Parking facilities around the town will be incorporated into the plans in order to minimise traffic near the ground on matchdays. Fans with cars will be encouraged to park away from the stadium with further shuttle bus services linking the network of car parks to the arena.

Widened road
With massive interest expected for the finals, the city authorities are proposing to widen the main road to the south of the stadium, the Südring, to achieve four lanes of traffic, with one lane being set aside for VIPs and media representatives on matchdays. Supporters travelling by coach will also be catered for with additional bus parking spaces being planned around the ground. "We will be investing more than €5m just to make the necessary infrastructure measures," said Wiedenbauer.

Flexible plans
The authorities insist their proposals are flexible and can easily be adjusted in light of the draw for the tournament, which will take place on 2 December 2007. "Once we know which teams will be playing in Klagenfurt, we will have a better idea about the volume of traffic we will be dealing with and what will be needed," said Anulf Rainer, head of the local UEFA EURO 2008™ organising committee. "We have presented our overall concept to show the public we are thinking carefully about transport and infrastructure issues."

Fan zone
Klagenfurt's plans to erect their fan zone in the grounds of the Klagenfurt Convention Centre are well advanced. "The fan zone will serve as a sort of connection between the EURO arena and the city centre, and if we don't have good luck with the weather, we'll be able to provide shelter inside the Convention Centre," said Rainer, who is anticipating more than 10,000 visitors to the fan zone on matchdays.

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

Praise Küsel for providing us with these pictures from Zürich:

August 06, the old stadium being demolished
http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letziaug.jpg

The site in September 06
http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzisept.jpg

The stadium in January 07:
http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzijan.jpg

Next time around he shouldn't visit the stadium site in the middle of the night. ;)

You know, it gets dark quite early in Switzerland. ;)

Kampflamm always gets what he demands:
pictures from today (Again, thanks and credits to Küsel)

http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzifeb1.jpg

http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzifeb2.jpg

http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzifeb3.jpg

http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzifeb4.jpg

http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzifeb5.jpg

http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letziuebersicht.jpg

http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzigruss.jpg

Pretty sweet. Although the interior with just a single ring looks a bit dull.

Reminds me of the Daimler-Stadion.

Yeah. The floodlights look really innovative though.

Will cast interesting shadows.

Maybe there won't be any shadows at all. At least that's the case in Berlin (and I suppose in some other German stadiums although I haven't really payed any attention to that).

Desperately looking for new pictures...

Bern
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/e/e0/Stadedesuisse_yb-om.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Tatze-derby.jpg

Thanks for posting my pics, David - I was a bit late and didn't know exactly which section you were talking about. But there is a Letzi-section in the Swiss forum now ;)

The Wörtherseestadion in Klagenfurt will be opened with the first match of a 4-nations tournament.
Austria will play japan, while, on the same day Switzerland will meet Chile in Vienna. Four days later, Klagenfurt will host Switzerland-Japan and Austria will challenge the Chileans in Vienna.

http://service.it-wms.com/klagenfurt2/archive/2007/03/04/big_pan_2007-03-04-1000_1.jpg

Updates from UEFA's site:

VIENNA:
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446171_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446172_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446173_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446175_biglandscape.jpg



KLAGENFURT:
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/510821_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/510820_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/471014_biglandscape.jpg



SALZBURG:
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/finals08/315899_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446168_bigportrait.jpg


INNSBRUCK:
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/finals08/315897_biglandscape.jpg


ZÜRICH:
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/510828_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/510827_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/510826_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/510822_biglandscape.jpg



BASLE:
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446131_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446133_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446127_biglandscape.jpg



BERNE:
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446145_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446148_bigportrait.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446153_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446158_biglandscape.jpg



GENEVA:
http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446103_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446108_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446119_biglandscape.jpg

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/stadium08/446123_biglandscape.jpg

any updates of the St. Jakop Park and the 3rd tier?

http://www.baselunited.ch/photos/sjp/3/070305_0001.jpg

http://www.baselunited.ch/photos/sjp/3/070305_0003.jpg

http://www.baselunited.ch/photos/sjp/3/070305_0006.jpg

Any renderings of what Vienna's interior will look like in 08?

^^ None unfortunately, as of yet.

I believe that not TOO much will have changed, though.

Hopefully the seats will go all the way down to the track.

as i know they will add some rows

^^ That's what was once said, however, I haven't heard any talk of it recently. The stadium is closed until August (for both matches and visits), so I guess by summer we should be a lot more informed.

Check out this page:

http://www.efzezet.ch/gallery/281206

Or the official homepage of City of Zurich:

http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/internet/hbd/home/planen_bauen/bauten_aktuell_01/stadion_letzigrund.html

Webcam:

http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/internet/hbd/home/planen_bauen/bauten_aktuell_01/stadion_letzigrund/webcams.html

well, Basel's new third tier is poor

why?

nice amount of pillars, terribly integrated, etc

Fresh from the press... I passed by the Letzi today and took these three pictures for you out of the tram:
http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzimaerz1.jpg
http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzimaerz2.jpg
http://www.ch-br.net/markus/images/ssc/letzimaerz3.jpg

From yesterday's sport show on TV a small piece about Sanya Richards and the Swiss sprinters visiting the construction site of the Letzigrund stadium together with the organiser of the Golden League athletics meeting "Weltklasse in Zurich". You see Sanya Richards performing in the old stadium 9 months ago during the meeting which is the most popular one in the world for many athletes.

Now the completely new stadium is built on the same place, but with the new ground 8m below surface. The opening will be in September with the "Weltklasse in Zurich" meeting and the football game between local rivals Grasshoppers and FC Zurich. So, thanks to the efficient planning & construction the Athletics meeting will not need to move or take a break this year! This was one of the requirements for the construction company.

The stadium will be used for the annual Golden League athletics meeting, rock concerts, public sport associations and also as a training center for the football team FC Zurich (with additional football fields outside of the stadium). For the coming appr. four years, the stadium will be the home ground for both professional football teams Grasshoppers-Club Zurich and FC Zurich (until the new 30'000-seater football stadium will be constructed - most probably on the site of the current one). And, of course, it will be one of the 8 grounds of Euro 2008.

A special feature of the stadium is, that it will be a meeting place for the people living in the area (it's a residential area) with cafes etc. On days without chargeable events, folks can just walk into the stadium directly from the street and hang around.

Here is the TV report (it's in Swiss and German language, but I guess, the pictures speak for themselves):
http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fspak%2F2007%2F05%2Fspak_20070521.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A06%3A30.136%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A10%3A02.584

Some pics from kicker.de...don't know how up to date these things are but they look quite alright.

Klagenfurt

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_5.jpg

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_6.jpg

Salzburg

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_7.jpg

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_8.jpg

Innsbruck

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_9.jpg

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_10.jpg

Geneva

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_11.jpg

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_12.jpg

Vienna

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_13.jpg

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_14.jpg

Berne

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_16.jpg

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_15.jpg

Basel

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_17.jpg

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_18.jpg

Zurich

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_19.jpg

Looking good, shame there wont be many tickets for the fans but they are suitable for these 2 nations. 2012 will solve the seating capacity problems anyway.

Take it the wooden struts in the Zurich pic are being removed and replaced with concrete ones?

The stadiums aren't complete yet?

Basel, Bern, Geneva and Vienna are. The other 4 are not.

Take it the wooden struts in the Zurich pic are being removed and replaced with concrete ones?I think they use this method because the stand is being constructed on a (artificial) hill.

What strikes me is that the Austrian stadiums (except for the existing Ernst Happel Stadium) have steel second tiers. To be demolished after the EURO? (I only know this will be the case in Klagenfurt, what about the others?)

I think so. Salzburg might keep it but the other clubs definitely don't need a second tier.

How can they not be complete? The ones for 2012 are nearly done, isn't there a 2 year reserve time, that everything has to be ready 2 years before the championship to have time to fix all the minor details?

Ones for 2012 are nearly done? :laugh: Did I miss something here?

How can they not be complete? The ones for 2012 are nearly done, isn't there a 2 year reserve time, that everything has to be ready 2 years before the championship to have time to fix all the minor details?

There is no such thing as a 2 year reserve time. Portugal for instance constructed 10 new stadiums. Most of them weren't finished until a few months before the start of the tournament.

Ones for 2012 are nearly done? :laugh: Did I miss something here?

Some are. :laugh: Yes.

There is no such thing as a 2 year reserve time. Portugal for instance constructed 10 new stadiums. Most of them weren't finished until a few months before the start of the tournament.

Interesting. I remember reading that Ukraine HAD TO finish everything up by 2010 as one of the agreements.

Some are. :laugh: Yes.

Alright, how many are done? 1, 2? You were pretty much implying that all stadiums were all but officially completed.

4 in Ukraine are nearly done. Not sure about Poland though.

The stadiums really aren't particularly pleasing aesthetically are they?

I guess the beautiful surroundings will have to make up for that...

4 in Ukraine are nearly done. Not sure about Poland though.

Which 4 are almost done? as up to now the one in Dnipropetrovsk is almost done we still have to go along way with Donetsk and the constraction of Lviv and Kiev stadiums havent even started.

Which 4 are almost done? as up to now the one in Dnipropetrovsk is almost done we still have to go along way with Donetsk and the constraction of Lviv and Kiev stadiums havent even started.

Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv and NSK Olympiyskyi in Kyiv.

Yep ^^

http://mediadb.kicker.de/news/1000/1100/28000/slideshow/576440/image_slshow_einzel_0_14.jpg

This picture looks quite recent. Apparently they finished the paving works. When I last visited the site two months ago, they were far from that.

Vienna missed a chance to built something big imo

Vienna missed a chance to built something big imo

Maybe. But the question is, if the added value beyond 2008 would be able to outvalue the costs. The big stadium is not used too often in Vienna.

In terms of sustainability and economical soundness, the EURO 2008 is probably one of the best bids ever. ;)

Maybe a potential new stadium in Vienna could be designed primarily for concerts and festivals, with an option to use it also for football. ;)

There is a new stadium planned near Sion (Switzerland) where concerts and festivals are also an important part of the concept. It is designed in a way that one of the four stands (opposite the stage) will be huge, the other three much smaller:

http://www.lematin.ch/pages/home/sports/football/sports_football__1?contenu=260975

Are there similar designs already realised somewhere?

Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv and NSK Olympiyskyi in Kyiv.

Olympiyskyi will not be a new construction?

How can they not be complete? The ones for 2012 are nearly done, isn't there a 2 year reserve time, that everything has to be ready 2 years before the championship to have time to fix all the minor details?

Probably they say 2010 to make sure it will be finished by 2011. ;)

Zurich, Letzigrund, construction site pictures:

http://www.fcz.ch/erste/stadion/bauarbeiten_letzi.aspx

Without a doubt this will be a fantastic, well-organized event.

one-year-to-go!

Kick-Off EURO 2008 on Jungfraujoch "Top of Europe" (highest train station in Europe on 3454 m. above sea level).

The two co-hosts have many differences concerning the nature of their states and their history, but what really unites them is the Alps which is nicely reflected in the logotype.

A temporary "stadium" was built on the ridge between the mountain tops of Jungfrau (4158 m) & Mönch (4'107 m) - spectacular!

Current and former national players of Switzerland and Austria incl. guest players were playing a game which ended with a draw, 5:5, of course ;)

here's the video:

http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fspak%2F2007%2F06%2Fspak_20070608.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A10%3A46.814%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A14%3A01.353

(Breitband -> okay, for enlarged screen)

Jungfraujoch:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungfraujoch

current state (stadia, public viewing etc. in Switzerland):
http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fspak%2F2007%2F06%2Fspak_20070607.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A06%3A54.647%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A11%3A18.488

current state (stadia, public viewing etc. in Austria):
http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fspak%2F2007%2F06%2Fspak_20070607.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A17%3A22.29%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A22%3A30.873

countdown clocks in all host cities:
http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fspak%2F2007%2F06%2Fspak_20070607.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A00%3A35.540%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A03%3A04.380

anticipation of the population in Switzerland:
http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fspak%2F2007%2F06%2Fspak_20070607.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A13%3A15.383%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A14%3A29.480

Too bad Austria's football sucks so badly. It's gonna be embarrassing for them.

Olympiyskyi will not be a new construction?

No, but a significant reconstruction. Although there will be a new huge stadium (65k+) build in city as well. Nobody is entirely sure why.

The stadiums aren't complete yet?

date of completion of the current developments
- Vienna: 1931
- Innsbruck: 2000
- Basel: 2001
- Geneva: 2003
- Salzburg: 2003
- Bern: 2005
- Zurich: 2007
- Klagenfurt: 2007

summing up the completion dates still to be expected:
- August 2007: new Letzigrund, Zurich
- September 2007, Wörtherseestadion, Klagenfurt
- September 2007, 2nd tier, Tivoli, Innsbruck
- December 2007, 2nd tier, Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg


Vienna, Ernst-Happel-Stadion
- opened in 1931
- all-seater & completely roofed since 1986
- 4 x host of Champions League/Champions Club Cup Final
- host of National Team games and important club games (local derbies, internationals)

Innsbruck, Tivoli Neu
- opened in 2000 replacing the old "Tivoli" stadium
- current capacity is 17'000, a 2nd tier is built to increase the capacity for EURO 2008
- the local team Wacker Tirol Innsbruck, founded in 2002, after bankruptcy of FC Tirol Innsbruck, has advanced to the Austrian first division
- after the EURO, the 2nd tier will be probably dismantled

Basel, St.Jakob Park
- opened in 1954, built for the World Cup
- dismantled 1999, the new development was opened in 2001
- expansion: completion of a 3rd tier in 2006
- the stadium is home to the local first division club FC Basel, internationals are played in the stadium and also concerts/operas held

Geneva, Stade de Genève
- opened in 2003
- the most popular local first division team Servette FC went bankrupt in 2004 because of the over-ambitious investor, meanwhile the club has started a new beginning with its U21-team and is meanwhile back in the second division
- the venue is also used for friendly internationals, American Football, concerts and other sports events

Salzburg, Wals-Siezenheim
- opened in 2003
- current capacity is 18'000, a 2nd tier is built to increase the capacity for EURO 2008
- the field is usually artificial turf which is changed into natural turf especially for EURO 2008
- the 2nd tier will be finished appr. by December 2007
- due to the new ownership and big ambitions of the Red Bull Salzburg team, the 2nd tier will most probably NOT be removed as it was initially planned

Bern, Stade de Suisse
- opened in 1925
- ground of the World Cup Final 1954, Germany-Hungary
- dismantled in 2001, the new development was opened in 2005
- the stadium is home to the local first division club BSC Young Boys, it is also used for concerts, the Swiss Cup Final is usually taking place in this stadium, regional rival FC Thun played their successful 2005/2006 Champions League campaign in Stade de Suisse
- the field is usually artificial turf which is changed into natural turf especially for EURO 2008
- in January 2007, the regional hockey teams SCL Tigers and SC Bern played a first division league match on a custom-built ice-rink in the Stade de Suisse - 30'000 spectators meant a record crowd for hockey league matches in Europe

Zurich, Letzigrund
- opened in 1925
- the stadium has been the host of one of the most popular athletics meetings in the world and also to the local football club FC Zurich
- through the years, Letzigrund has seen 24 World Records in Athletics, including in 1960 the first man running 100m in 10,0 seconds
- the old stadium was dismantled in 2006
- completion of the new development, nicknamed "birthday cake", with the field 8m below ground level, will be in August 2007
- Golden League athletics event "Weltklasse Zürich" and first national and international football games in September 2007
- the stadium is designed as an athletics, amateur sports, music and event stadium, and a neighbourhood meeting center, during the upcoming ca. 3-4 years, it will be also host for both professional football clubs in Zurich: FC Zurich & Grasshoppers-Club both playing in the Swiss first division - until the new football stadium will be completed

Klagenfurt, Wörthersee-Stadion
- will be completed in September 2007 on the site of a former much smaller stadium, first international friendly match in October
- after the EURO, the 2nd tier will be probably dismantled (but there's still discussions about it) - the materials will be used for the building of other stadiums in Austria - the Klagenfurt stadium will then have a capacity of 12'000
- the best local team has been unsuccessful for years to advance to the Austrian first division, now it is merging with the first division club from the village of Pasching near Linz and the new club will play in the Wörthersee stadium in Klagenfurt

Too bad Austria's football sucks so badly. It's gonna be embarrassing for them.

That's what everybody thought about Greece as well. ;)

That's what everybody thought about Greece as well. ;)

And time proved people were right.

Don't try and hurt me even more...

in my opinion all stadiums are boring :ohno: :ohno:

Deeply sorry, we all forgot it was all about the looks when "we" presented our bid.
However, neither UEFA nor the OC could be convinced that Vienna needs a 70,000+ flashy Calatrava-meets-Foster-bowl.
I got the funny feeling that they were right.

Deeply sorry, we all forgot it was all about the looks when "we" presented our bid.
However, neither UEFA nor the OC could be convinced that Vienna needs a 70,000+ flashy Calatrava-meets-Foster-bowl.
I got the funny feeling that they were right.

Don't listen to them, your bid is good. Both countries have good stadiums, transport, infrastrucrure, sufficient amount of hotels. I think that all stadiums are of good standart, and capacities are not a problem, you have to look into the future. obviously Vienna doesn't need 60+k stadium that you will not be able to fill in the future.

the bid is fine, the stadiums are fine, but the final stadium should be something a bit better to be honest, the only pleasing aesthetic part of the Ernst-Happel is the roof, the rest is dated and could do with a proper touch up, not just a minor one

^^ Agreed.
It kind of resembles a museum, but what would you expect from a 1930 stadium?
And it's cool somehow, not sterile and soulless, like numberless other 5*-stadiums. Lots of things happened there...

i think Wörthersee Arena in Klagenfurt is awesome!that's why i voted for that stadium....but which team is going to use it?
....St Jakob Park is also nice and i also like Stadion Salzburg and Stade de Suisse is good with an interesting style...in general i believe the stadiums are nice
and they DO look great..of course Austria and Switzerland both look fantastic.....can't wait....1 more year...:(
So yeah it's Wörthersee Arena by me...and where does the final take place?

I agree with matherto, bid is fine, not dull but not awesome, it will be nice tournament and I'm going to visit Swithzerland in 2008 for sure to see it.

and where does the final take place?

In Vienna (opening game in Basel).

some recent pics (http://www.flickr.com/photos/metzgi/sets/72157600464742959/) from the stadium in zurich.

Erm, page 3 is kind of a disgrace for this important thread. ;)

Anyway. First picture of Salzburg's stadium with the upper tier occupied:
http://sport.orf.at/070725-11891/fus_sbg_arsenal_popup01_b_a.jpg

Today the stadium saw its first match in front of 31.000 spectators when Salzburg challenged Arsenal (and won by 1-0, don't ask me how but they did...)

Some more Salzburg pics:

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/rbsboard/uploads/1185297411/gallery_316_51_387698.jpg

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/rbsboard/uploads/1184200426/gallery_1_51_96828.jpg

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/rbsboard/uploads/1184200426/gallery_1_51_131832.jpg

http://www.redbullsalzburg-board.com/rbsboard/uploads/1185297411/gallery_316_51_124441.jpg

Looks alright, although it's nothing really groundbreaking. Kinda like the Borussia-Park in Mönchengladbach.

its a good design considering the upper tier is temporary and will be removed after 2008.

Why not just leave it?

No need for the extra capacity after the Euro. They would be playing in a half empty stadium for most of their games if they kept 31,000 seats.

Actually, there is some controversy about the upper tier in SZG right now, as the club has plans to keep it, but local politicians have already promised to the (goddamn fucking) NIMBYs that the original size will be kept.

Now the solar power station on the roof of Stade de Suisse Wankdorf in Bern is fully developed. The energy production rises up to 1.2 Mil. kilowatt hours per year equal to the annual consumption of about 400 households.

http://www.esag-lyss.ch/images/stadedesuisse_460.jpg

The new parts were officially put into operation. Now the solar roof surface amounts to 12 ' 000 square metres - before it was 8,000 square metres. The solar power plant on the stadium roof exists for two years. The arrangement was developed because of the big demand for solar stream. It is the worldwide biggest solar power station integrated in a stadium and is worth about 10 Mil. CHF, operated without any subsidies.

sda / 16. August 2007

In two weeks, the opening of the new Letzigrund stadium in Zurich will take place. Yesterday evening the interesting illumination has been tested for the first time:

http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2F10vor10%2F2007%2F08%2F10vor10_20070820.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A15%3A02.989%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A15%3A35.315

Here some images of the new Letzigrund Stadion in Zurich that will have it's official opening next friday with the "worldclass zurich"


http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/86.jpg


http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/85.jpg

http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/84.jpg


http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/65.jpg


http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/70.jpg


http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/74.jpg


http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/76.jpg


http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/48.jpg


http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/55.jpg


http://www.weltklassezuerich.ch/images/stadion_neubau/gr/54.jpg

great stadium!!!

I prefer Sankt Jakob Park over Ernst Happel Stadion. Quality over capacity :D

Inauguration of Letzigrund with the Worldclass Athletics event:

http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fspak%2F2007%2F09%2Fspak_20070907.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A25%3A05.331%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A29%3A58.30

http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fspak%2F2007%2F09%2Fspak_20070907.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A22%3A35.803%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A25%3A05.331

http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fspak%2F2007%2F09%2Fspak_20070907.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A21%3A25.366%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A22%3A35.803


Athlete of the Day: Blanka Vlasic

http://www.sf.tv/piccache/webtool/data/pics/sportdiashow/la_wk_vlasic_szq_2_w_h347_m.jpg

I love Blanka :(

Is FCZ back at the stadium?

I love Blanka :(

Is FCZ back at the stadium?

Yes, the "football inauguration" will be on 23.September the local derby FCZ - Grasshoppers.

4 days later the first international game, UEFA-Cup 1st round return match FCZ - Empoli.

And on 13.October the Swiss national team will welcome co-host Austria for a Friendly in this stadium.

Klagenfurt's Wörtherseestadion was inaugurated today, as well.
Austria played Japan, match ended 0-0. Terrible football...nice stadium.

http://www.woertherseestadion.at/deutsch/bilder/diashow/4070316z5HOR-kk.jpg

http://www.woertherseestadion.at/deutsch/bilder/diashow/11070730bKUL-kk.jpg

http://www.sport1.at/typo3temp/pics/73026890c0.jpg

http://www.sport1.at/typo3temp/pics/e6f27fcf03.jpg

http://www.sport1.at/typo3temp/pics/97ed744298.jpg

http://www.sport1.at/typo3temp/pics/a2623cda75.jpg

http://www.sport1.at/typo3temp/pics/d6a6f7e6fb.jpg

http://www.sport1.at/typo3temp/pics/6ad8d46873.jpg

http://www.sport1.at/typo3temp/pics/86e83c4810.jpg

You know, it might have a running track, but I'd happily watch football at the new Zurich stadium. It's really classy in my opinion, and I especially like the roof.

Looks nice indeed:

http://images.***************/20070906/satdiongr.jpg

The new Letzigrund is really fantastic. Of course it's an athletics stadium but the Weltklasse Zürich is the most important yearly sport of the city. What I still don't know is how the extra seats will be built into the stadium. I once read that the lower tiers will temporarily be more flat and come closer to the field.