Swiss Football League – Stadia Review

This thread aims to provide a review of Swiss Football League Stadia current state and future plans. The stadia of all 10 1st Divison and 16 2nd Division teams are represented.

As everyone knows, modern football was developed in England. Switzerland was among the first countries where it was “exported” to. Also in other areas of economy and culture, Switzerland was following early on new trends from England. It was especially the cosmopolitan-minded youth (students) in the globalization wave of the 1870-ies and 1880-ies that were susceptive to it. Swiss clubs founded in these times have often English names and F.C. stands for the English “Football Club” still today. The Lausanne Football and Cricket club of 1860 was probably the first Football Club in Continental Europe, FC St.Gallen of 1879 is together with Boldklub Kopenhagen the oldest still existing Football Club in Continental Europe.

FC St.Gallen in its early years:
http://www.falki-design.ch/pics/folie04.jpg
http://www.falki-design.ch/pics/folie04.jpg

Further on, Swiss students supported the process of football expansion to other regions of Europe, mainly the Mediterranean. The biggest football club of the world, FC Barcelona, was founded by the Swiss Hans Gamper.

Hans Gamper:
http://www.fcb-videos.com/photos/gamper.jpg
http://www.fcb-videos.com/photos/gamper.jpg
Internazionale Milan was founded by a group of Swiss and cosmopolitan Italians who left the nationalistic Milan CFC (today: AC Milan) where only Italians were allowed to play. Also some other first football clubs in cities in Italy, Southern France and Spain were founded or co-founded by Swiss, and the German football pioneer Walther Bensemann started to spread the game in his home country after learning it in his school years in Switzerland.

The Swiss Football Association was founded 1895, and was among the seven associations that founded FIFA in 1904. Already in 1906, Switzerland offered to host the first world cup and started preparations for it, but the tournament was not realized due to internal differences in several important national associations. The major international football tournament in the beginning was therefore the Olympic Tournament where the Swiss team achieved the silver medal in Paris 1924 in the Final against Uruguay. 1930 the first FIFA World Cup took place in Uruguay.

In the beginning of the 50-ies, the city of Lausanne built a (for that time) ultra-modern stadium - the Stade Olympique. In the wake of the preparation for the 5th FIFA World Cup 1954 in Switzerland, the stadium St.Jakob in Basel was built, and several other stadiums extended. The Final between Germany and Hungary was held in the Wankdorf stadium in Bern. The team of Switzerland reached the 1/4 –Finals by defeating Italy where it lost in a crazy game in the heat of Lausanne against Austria 5:7, the most high-scoring game in World Cup history.

World Cup 1954 in Switzerland:
http://www.fifa.com/mm/photo/archivedtournament/summaries/schweiz54_fifa_417_1709_full-lnd.jpg
http://www.fifa.com/mm/photo/archivedtournament/summaries/schweiz54_fifa_417_1709_full-lnd.jpg
While the game was globally promoted and professionalized from the Swiss offices of FIFA (since the 30-ies) and UEFA (since the 50-ies) with mostly Swiss staff, the football and its infrastructures in Switzerland itself were not taken care of on an equal level. The national team didn’t manage to stay at the top level internationally, and also concerning the stadia, there were only smaller developments and no bigger extensions or fundamental design changes made anymore since the World Cup 1954. There was a negative attitude in Switzerland towards professionalism and commercialization in sports – and for some time in the 60-ies the building of new sports facilities was even forbidden as one of the measures to cool down the economic boom.

It was not until the 90-ies when the turnaround was managed. The national team qualified for the World Cup 1994 and the European Championship 1996. In 1995, finally, the National Football Association started to employ professional coaches for their youth teams for the first time. The results of these (late) changes are visible today, as the Swiss footballers are getting closer back again to the international top level.

Also concerning the stadia, Swiss cities started to react to developments in countries like Netherlands, England or Germany. The four biggest cities and their top teams started to plan new all-seater stadia in the 90-ies. The first one was Basel with the inauguration in 2001. Geneva, Bern and Zurich followed. The competition between these cities played an important role. With the four stadiums built, or in process, Switzerland joined Austria in a bid to host the European Championship 2008. Austria had already two times been unsuccessful with their earlier bids alone or together with Hungary, respectively. But the bid of the two Alpine partners was successful in 2002 in a tough competition of 7 bids from totally 14 countries. So, there is, however, no stadium in Switzerland that has been built especially for Euro 2008. Switzerland joined the bid because the stadia were already in the making.

The new stadia were successful. Each of them lead to a doubling of attendance figures. Geneva is a special case, because of poor management, after a promising start in the new stadium, Servette FC went bankrupt.

Were the 30’000+ stadiums in the four biggest cities a question mostly of the initiatives of the respective cities, the continuation of the stadium building boom, with smaller stadia in smaller cities, is much more related with the more ambitious infrastructure Minimum Criteria, which the Swiss Football Association is applying now for its Super League and Challenge League teams. As an example, the Swiss Football League demands for Super League teams fully-covered stadia with a minimum of 10’000 places from which a minimum of 2/3 should be seats. This puts pressure also on many smaller cities to either find a solution to modernize their stadia, or otherwise see their team relegated for infrastructure reasons.

As a general impression, one can say that Switzerland is catching up with countries like Netherlands or Norway in terms of stadia infrastructure. If all planned projects are realized, the coverage of the country with football stadia will be nearly perfect for the moment. There would be the right number of stadia in the 40’000+, 30’000+ and 20’000+ area and only 2-3 additional cities would be left where a new 10’000-stadium could make sense as well.


General Information on Switzerland

Population:7.4 million
Size: 41,285 sqm
GDP/capita: 53'000 USD

70% of the area are mountainous. This means in the 30% hilly Midlands where the majority of the population lives, the population density is actually quite high. There live 450 people per skm in this area. Few regions in Europe are more densely populated. It's like a long-stretching "city" of 350km length and ca. 50 km width from Lake Geneva (south-west) to Lake Constanze (north-east) with a population of ca. 6.5 million. Real rural areas are rare in this part and also the more rural mountain areas have quite high standards of architecture and infrastructure. Despite various traditional styles that can be found in many places, the “rural” areas of Switzerland are above-average urban, or at least sub-urban in character. The democratic and federal nature of the country is expressed in the fact that it has not only no head of state and no head of government, but also no capital. Bern is the federal city hosting the federal parliament and a big part of the federal government administration. The structure of Switzerland is traditionally based on the 26 cantons which enjoy a remarkable degree of independence. But agglomerations and, on a bigger scale, metropolitan regions, are gaining in importance. Depending on the definition, there are between 2 and 6 metropolitan regions covering Switzerland of which the majority are cross-border in nature involving areas of France, Germany or Italy, respectively. The biggest metropolitan region is Zurich, sometimes joined with the Basel area to form the “Northern Switzerland” economic and metropolitan region involving small shares of Germany and France. The second in importance economic growth area is the Lake of Geneva region, also called “Arc Lémanique”, which involves Geneva, Lausanne and some areas on the French side of the border.


Map of Switzerland:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/KARTE_schweiz_verwaltungsgliederung.png/800px-KARTE_schweiz_verwaltungsgliederung.png
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/KARTE_schweiz_verwaltungsgliederung.png/800px-KARTE_schweiz_verwaltungsgliederung.png

Super League (1st Division)



Basel

City Population: 160'000
Agglomeration: 730'000


SL-Team: FC Basel
- founded 1893
- 13x champion (incl. 2010)
- 10x cup-winner (incl. 2010)
- Video of the final championship game 2010: http://www.videoportal.sf.tv/video?id=089bfc7f-5329-417f-967c-d9c012502fb7;DCSext.zugang=sfsport
- Video Cup Final 2010: http://www.videoportal.sf.tv/video?id=347b472d-b2b4-490f-a9ed-31519ccad5ea;DCSext.zugang=sfsport
- eliminated Celtic in Champions League Qualification and Liverpool FC in the Group Stage, plus victories against Juventus, La Coruna and Spartak in 02/03, qualification for Champions League group stage 08/09, UEFA-Cup ¼-Final in 05/06, 1/16-Final in 04/05, UI-Cup-Final in 01/02
- Well-known former players: Ottmar Hitzfeld, Karl Odermatt, Maurizio Gaudino, Oliver Kreuzer, Murat Yakin, Hakan Yakin, Thimotée Atouba, Mario Cantaluppi, Julio Hernan Rossi, Christian Gimenez, Ivan Rakitic, Zdravko Kuzmanovic, Mladen Petric, Philipp Degen, David Degen, Matias Delgado, Teofilo Cubillas, Oumar Kondé, Markus Schupp, Pascal Zuberbühler, Otto Demarmels, Bernt Haas, Kléber, Patrick Müller, Adrian Knup, Felipe Caicedo, César Andrés Carignano, Boris Smiljanic, Vratislav Lokvenc, Daniel Majstorovic, Eren Derdiyok, Ivan Ergic
- Well-known coaches: Helmut Benthaus, Christian Gross


Stadium: St.Jakob Park
- UEFA/League Capacity: 38’500
- Euro 2008 Capacity: 42’500
- Average League attendance FC Basel 09/10: 23’700
- Maximum League attendance FC Basel 09/10: 30’800
- Photos of St.Jakob evolution 1953 – 2000: http://www.stades.ch/StJakobAnc-photos.html
- Euro 2008 venue (including 1 semi-final and 2 quarter-finals)
- World Cup 1954 venue (old St.Jakob, including 1 semi-final)
- Venue of the Swiss Cup Final 2010 and six former Cup Finals (2001–2005, 2008)
- Since 2007 de facto the national stadium of Switzerland where the most important games of the national team are played due to the capacity and the natural pitch
- Perspectives: the stadium is suitable for Basel, and might be a candidate for a Europa League Final sometime in the future – the original St.Jakob had been built for the World Cup 1954 and then replaced by a new stadium in 2001 – this stadium had been designed by the world-famous local architects Herzog&deMeuron (Tate Modern, Miami Art Museum, Elbphilharmonie,,,) – St.Jakob Park was their first Stadium and kind of a playground for testing – later they moved on to build Allianz-Arena in Munich and the Olympic Stadium in Peking

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/St-Jakob-Park-Nacht.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/St-Jakob-Park-Nacht.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/469648847_9cb23ec109.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/469648847_9cb23ec109.jpg?v=0



Bern

City Population: 120'000
Agglomeration: 350'000


SL-Team: BSC Young Boys
- founded 1898
- the name of the club is a reference to one of the most successful teams at that time in Switzerland, the “Old Boys” from Basel
- 11x champion
- 6x cup-winner
- ½-Final European Champions Cup 58/59, ¼-Finals European Cup Winners Cup 1986
- Well-known former players: Georges Bregy, Stéphane Chapuisat, Andrés Escobar, Lars Lunde, Piotr Nowak, Robert Prytz, Johan Vonlanthen, Hakan Yakin, Kamil Zayatte, Joetex Asamoah Frimpong, Toni Kallio, Kader Mangane, Gretar Steinsson, Seydou Doumbia, Gilles Yapi
- Well-known coaches: Albert Sing, Gernot Rohr, Martin Andermatt, Timo Konietzka, Pal Csernai, Alexander Mandziara, Hanspeter Zaugg


Stadium: Stade de Suisse Wankdorf
- UEFA/League/Euro 2008 Capacity: 32’000
- Average League attendance BSC Young Boys 09/10: 22’700
- Maximum League attendance BSC Young Boys 09/10: 31’100
- Photos of Wankdorf evolution 1929 – 2005: http://www.stades.ch/Wankdorf-photos.html
- Euro 2008 venue
- World Cup 1954 venue (old Wankdorf, including the World Cup Final Hungary - Germany)
- Major venue of Swiss Cup Finals (totally 78 finals incl. 2006, 2007)
- Artificial pitch, might be switching back to natural pitch
- Perspectives: attendance of BSC Young Boys is rising and has reached last year a higher level than the popular local Hockey-Club SC Bern (biggest Hockey attendance in Europe) – the pitch of Wankdorf is most of the time artificial turf – for Euro 2008, it has been changed to a natural one
- Stade de Suisse Wankdorf is traditionally the location of the popular Swiss Cup Final, but in general, the Swiss Football Association prefers natural turf – in 2007, the Final has been played in Bern for the first time in history on artificial turf, but in 2008, it has been moved to Basel - in 2009, it has been played one more time in Bern, but the location for 2010 is again Basel

http://www.bscyb.ch/cgi-bin/dynamisch/image/content/stade_2009.jpg
http://www.bscyb.ch/cgi-bin/dynamisch/image/content/stade_2009.jpg

Stade de Suisse hosting the Swiss Hockey League game SCL Tigers – SC Bern on 14th January 2007 with a 30’000 record attendance in European Hockey:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Tatze-derby.jpg/800px-Tatze-derby.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Tatze-derby.jpg/800px-Tatze-derby.jpg



Zurich

City Population: 350'000
Agglomeration: 1,13 million


SL-Team: FC Zurich
- founded 1896
- 12x champion
- 7x cup-winner
- European Champions Cup 1/2-Final in 1964 (against Real Madrid) and 1977 (against Liverpool), Champions League group stage 2009/2010 with an away win vs. Milan
- Well-known former players: Shaun Bartlett, René Botteron, Blerim Dzemaili, Iulian Filipescu, Hans Gamper, Daniel Gygax, Adrian Illie, Gökhan Inler, Daniel Jeandupeux, Jurica Jerkovic, Alhassane Keita, Köbi Kuhn, Fritz Künzli, Shabani Nonda, Marcel Raducanu, Wynton Rufer, Ike Shorunmu, Francileudo Silva dos Santos, Klaus Stürmer, Herbert Waas, Rashidi Yekini, Gianpietro Zappa, Raffael, Almen Abdi
- Well-known coaches: Karl Rappan, Louis Maurer, Timo Konietzka, Daniel Jeandupeux, Köbi Kuhn, Gilbert Gress, Lucien Favre


SL-Team: Grasshopper-Club Zurich
- founded 1886
- 27x champion (record)
- 18x cup-winner (record)
- Qualification for Champions League Group Stage in 1995 and 1996
- UEFA-Cup ½-Final 1978 and ¼-Finals 1981, European Champions Cup ¼-Finals 1979, European Cup Winners Cup ¼-Finals 1990
- Well-known former players: Trello & Xam Abegglen, Fredy Bickel, Pape Bouba Diop, Henri Camara, Stéphane Chapuisat, Giovane Elber, Ove Grahn, Heinz Hermann, Marcel Koller, Patrick Müller, Günter Netzer, Richard Nunez, Wynton Rufer, Ciriaco Sforza, Alain Sutter, Kubilay Türkyilmaz, Johann Vogel, Hakan Yakin, Murat Yakin, Reto Ziegler, Severino Minelli, Vittorio Pozzo, Raul Bobadilla, Roland Linz
- Well-known coaches: Ottmar Hitzfeld, Christian Gross, Hennes Weisweiler, Timo Konietzka, Jürgen Sundermann, Helmuth Johannsen, René Hüssy, Albert Sing, Karl Rappan, Miroslav Blazevic, Leo Beenhakker, Hanspeter Latour, Rolf Fringer, Roy Hodgson, Marcel Koller, Hanspeter Zaugg, Krassimir Balakov


Possible future Stadium: Hardturm
- Photos of Hardturm evolution 1929 – 1990: http://www.stades.ch/Hardturm-photos-archives.html
- Video – start of Hardturm deconstruction 4.12.2008: http://www.sf.tv/sfsport/artikel.php?catid=sportfussballartikel&docid=20081204-01
- World Cup 1954 venue (old Hardturm, including the final for 3rd place)
- Perspectives: It is planned to be the new home and custom-built stadium for two teams: Grasshoppers and FC Zurich. The project of a pentagonal stadium with 30'000 places which was shortlisted also as a venue for Euro 2008 has been finally dismissed after many years of opposition by some neighbours and environmental groups. The disappointment about this development has even inspired a public vote on a general restriction on the power of environmental groups in building projects (administrative appeals by environmental associations) which was dismissed as well though by the citizens. The stadium itself had successfully passed a public vote earlier on.
- The old Hardturm stadium which has seen many memorable national and international games since its induction in 1929 is demolished and currently the site is lying idle. The city of Zurich and Credit Suisse have split up their properties. Credit Suisse will not be involved anymore in the stadium project and wants to build highrises on their share of the land. The city together with the clubs is looking for solutions for a new stadium project on the city property.


Current Stadium: Letzigrund
- UEFA/League Capacity: 26’000
- Athletics Capacity: 28’000
- Euro 2008 Capacity: 30’000
- Concerts Capacity: 40’000 – 50’000
- Average League attendance FC Zurich 09/10: 10’700
- Maximum League attendance FC Zurich 09/10: 18’200
- Average League attendance Grasshopper-Club Zurich 09/10: 6’800
- Maximum League attendance Grasshopper-Club Zurich 09/10: 12’600
- Euro 2008 venue
- One of the venues of the IAAF Diamond League and former IAAF Golden League
- Bidding for Athletics European Championship 2014
- Perspectives: the new stadium was built on the spot of the old Letzigrund stadium, but with the pitch 8 meters below ground level - it is the realization of a unique vision by local architects Bétrix & Consolascio which is considered a benchmark internationally for this type of stadiums - the stadium’s design with all its details aims to cater for the needs of worldclass-athletics (yearly Golden League meeting), a training center for Athletics (including indoor sprint hall) and Football, the logistics of big Rolling-Stones-type Rock concerts, but also as a meeting place for hobby athletes and the local community in general – the stadium with its Café and Restaurant is open as a “neighbourhood park” to the public during event-free days

http://sport.ard.de/euro2008/teams_spieler_stadien/stadien/img/letzigrund_luftaufnahme_dpa_600.jpg
http://sport.ard.de/euro2008/teams_spieler_stadien/stadien/img/letzigrund_luftaufnahme_dpa_600.jpg
http://www.davidkaiser.ch/letzi/letzigrund-meeting2007-dk03.jpg
http://www.davidkaiser.ch/letzi/letzigrund-meeting2007-dk03.jpg
http://www.davidkaiser.ch/letzi/letzigrund-meeting2007-dk12.jpg
http://www.davidkaiser.ch/letzi/letzigrund-meeting2007-dk12.jpg



Luzern

City Population: 60'000
Agglomeration: 200’000


SL-Team: FC Luzern
- founded 1901
- 1x champion
- 2x cup-winner
- Cup Winners Cup ¼-Finals 1960
- Well-known former players: Ottmar Hitzfeld, Adrian Knup, Ludwig Kögl, Alex Frei, Remo Meyer, Blaise Nkufo, Kubilay Türkyilmaz, Petar Aleksandrov, Ike Shorunmu, Christoph Spycher, Ratinho
- Well-known coaches: Albert Sing, René Hüssy, Paul Wolfisberg, Timo Konietzka, Egon Coordes, Friedel Rausch, Ciriaco Sforza


Future Stadium: Swisspor Arena
- League Capacity: 18’000
- UEFA Capacity: 15’800
- Status: under construction (groundbreaking: autumn 2009, opening: summer 2011)
- Including apartments, public swimming pool, fitness center
- At first artificial pitch was planned, but will use natural pitch now
- Perspectives: The citizens of Luzern have approved the new stadium in two votes: in February 2008 on the necessary change of the building zone classification, and in December 2008 on the project and its financing itself. Shortly after that, the naming right has been sold to insulation technology company Swisspor.

http://www.johnlay-solutions.ch/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=typo3temp/pics/c3b439faf0.jpg&t=1293118190&hash=4da1e79add584f653594fbcef19ec213
http://www.johnlay-solutions.ch/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=typo3temp/pics/c3b439faf0.jpg&t=1293118190&hash=4da1e79add584f653594fbcef19ec213

http://www.johnlay-solutions.ch/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=typo3temp/pics/8f6b318b20.jpg&t=1293118232&hash=1d8e5c14ee53a9424df85f55e321f05c
http://www.johnlay-solutions.ch/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=typo3temp/pics/8f6b318b20.jpg&t=1293118232&hash=1d8e5c14ee53a9424df85f55e321f05c

http://www.zugerzeitung.ch/storage/pic/diaserien/teaser/news/2010/baustelle_swissporarena/31793_1_04058057.jpg
http://www.zugerzeitung.ch/storage/pic/diaserien/teaser/news/2010/baustelle_swissporarena/31793_1_04058057.jpg


Current Stadium: Gersag
- League Capacity: 8’700
- Average League attendance FC Luzern 09/10: 7’600
- Maximum League attendance FC Luzern 09/10: 8’700
- During the construction of the new stadium (18 months), FC Luzern is playing in the Gersag sports centre in Emmen (home of a 3rd division team in the suburbs of Luzern). The capacity has been temporarily enlarged from 3‘500 to 8'700.

http://is.blick.ch/img/gen/O/3/HBO3Qc2y_Pxgen_r_794x615.jpg
http://is.blick.ch/img/gen/O/3/HBO3Qc2y_Pxgen_r_794x615.jpg

http://is.blick.ch/img/gen/T/n/HBTngy0O_Pxgen_r_900x587.jpg
http://is.blick.ch/img/gen/T/n/HBTngy0O_Pxgen_r_900x587.jpg

Sion

City Population: 30'000
Agglomeration: 40’000


SL-Team: FC Sion
- founded 1909
- 2x champion
- 11x cup-winner (unbeatable in Cup-Finals so far, even in the time as a 2nd Division club! 11 finals – 11 victories)
- Eliminated Atletico Madrid in ’84 and Olympique Marseille in ’94 in UEFA-Cup
- FC Sion is the pride of the whole mountainous Canton (State) of Valais - supporters hail from villages in all valleys of a state whose area is partly French- and partly German-speaking
- Well-known former players: Roberto Assis, Georges Bregy, Gabriel Calderon, Nestor Clausen, Ahmed Ouattara, Alain Geiger, Alexandre Rey, Raphaël Wicky, Joao Manuel Pinto, Gelson Fernandes, Stéphane Grichting, Essam El Hadary, Olivier Monterrubio, Kali, Alvaro Saborio, Ronaldinho (as a youth player for a few months)
- Well-known coaches: Alberto Bigon, Miroslav Blazevic, Enzo Trossero, Daniel Jeandupeux, Gilbert Gress


Current stadium: Tourbillon
- League Capacity: 16’500
- Average League attendance FC Sion 09/10: 10’800
- Maximum League attendance FC Sion 09/10: 15’000
- Perspectives: A new stadium in Riddes, 15 km outside of Sion has been planned by the president of the club for many years in conjunction with a commercial center. After legal objections of a nearby monastic order and quarrels with parts of the clubs supporters and the city administration in Sion, the plans for a football stadium in Riddes have been put aside (the commercial center will probably be realised though).
- the city is investing now CHF 7,5 Million to update the installations of the current stadium Tourbillon to make it comply with requirements of the Swiss Football League for the next ten years. Tourbillon will therefore also be eligible for UEFA Europa League Qualification games again. Only eventual group stage games would have to be played in Lancy (Stade de Genève), 150 km from Sion.
http://www.groundhopping.de/sionfcg2.jpg
http://www.groundhopping.de/sionfcg2.jpg





St.Gallen

City Population: 70'000
Agglomeration: 150’000


SL-Team: FC St.Gallen
- founded 1879
- Oldest still existing Football Club in Continental Europe together with Copenhagen Boldklub
- 2x champion
- 1x cup-winner
- Eliminated Chelsea in UEFA-Cup in 2000
- Well-known former players: Charles Amoah, Tranquillo Barnetta, José Cardozo, Mario Frick, Ionel Gane, Zeljiko Perusic, Jörg Stiel, Marco Tardelli, Armin Veh, Hakan Yakin, Ivan Zamorano, Hugo Rubio
- Well-known coaches: Albert Sing, Zeljiko Perusic, Helmuth Johannsen, Uwe Rapolder, Marcel Koller, Rolf Fringer


Stadium: AFG Arena
- UEFA Capacity: 18’000
- League Capacity: 20’000
- Average League attendance FC St.Gallen 09/10: 14’100
- Maximum League attendance FC St.Gallen 09/10: 19’500
- During Euro 2008, AFG Arena was the home base / training camp of Romania
- Perspectives: League Attendance has been rising in the new stadium by more than 25% despite relegation to the 2nd Division. Since the opening last year, the Swiss national team played already 3 games in the arena

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2520610233_c8a06cfe9d.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2520610233_c8a06cfe9d.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2711851612_4ee2cea8ec.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2711851612_4ee2cea8ec.jpg?v=0



Neuchâtel

City Population: 30'000
Agglomeration: 50’000


SL-Team: Neuchâtel Xamax
- founded 1916 / 1970 (merger with FC Cantonal)
- 2x champion
- 1/8-Finals European Champions Cup 1988 & 1989, ¼-Finals UEFA-Cup 1982 & 1986
- Well-known former players: Henri Camara, Lajos Detari, Alain Geiger, Stéphane Henchoz, Heinz Hermann, Xavier Margairaz, Viorel Moldovan, Hany Ramzy, Alexandre Rey, Uli Stielike, Don Givens, Timothée Atouba, Papa Bouba Diop, Pascal Zuberbühler
- Well-known coaches: Gilbert Gress


Stadium: Maladière
- UEFA/League Capacity: 12’000
- Average League attendance Xamax 09/10: 5’300
- Maximum League attendance Xamax 09/10: 12’000
- Artificial pitch
- During Euro 2008, Maladière was the home base / training camp of Portugal
- Perspectives: new stadium on the same spot as the old one, since 3 years in use, artificial turf was applied from the very beginning. The building includes 6 gyms, a shopping centre, car park, the firebrigade and emergency services.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/2972/maladiere170220072xg8.jpg
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/2972/maladiere170220072xg8.jpg
http://www.clubdesamis.ch/files/image/maladiere-new-vc.jpg
http://www.clubdesamis.ch/files/image/maladiere-new-vc.jpg




Bellinzona

City Population: 20’000
Agglomeration: 50’000


SL-Team: AC Bellinzona
- founded 1904
- 1x champion
- Eliminated Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in UEFA-Cup 08/09 as a Second Division team
- Well-known former players: Kubilay Türkyilmaz, Philippe Fargeon, Paolo Cesar, Matuzalem, Amauri
- Well-known coaches: Peter Pazmandy, Henri Dépireux

Possible future Stadium: Sant'Antonino
- UEFA/League Capacity: 10’500
- Possible Opening: appr. 2013
- The most probable project is with commercial tenants and a hotel cross-financing at the site next to the train station in Sant'Antonino (south of Bellinzona). The goal is to get the building permission for the project by 2011 in order to open it in 2013. There need to be several political, legal, commercial and organisational steps still taken, though, 'til the project can really be launched. Other options of sites and projects like Castione (north of Bellinzona) or in the center are still considered at this stage.

http://www.cdt.ch/files/images/f_7989b5ad5744111c8da11191b6cf6b55.jpg
http://www.cdt.ch/files/images/f_7989b5ad5744111c8da11191b6cf6b55.jpg
http://www.cdt.ch/files/images/f_a5aac23430e9c3eba6b5c80b4c00f795.jpg
http://www.cdt.ch/files/images/f_a5aac23430e9c3eba6b5c80b4c00f795.jpg

Current Stadium: Comunale
- League Capacity: 5’000
- Average League attendance: AC Bellinzona 09/10: 3’300
- Maximum League attendance: AC Bellinzona 09/10: 4’400
- Perspectives: Following promotion to Super League, the stadium had to be slightly renovated during summer break one year ago and the maximum allowed attendance has been reduced by more than half by the League commission in order for ACB to get an exemption license.
- The stadium is not approved anymore by UEFA, so Bellinzona had to play the UEFA Cup Qualification games two years ago against Ararat Erevan and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in Lugano, and the UEFA Cup 1st round game against Galatasaray in Basel. It’s clear that Bellinzona will need to start building a new stadium soon, in order to be allowed to play in 1st Division in the future.

http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/bellinzona.jpg
http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/bellinzona.jpg



Thun

City Population: 40'000
Agglomeration: 90’000


CL-Team: FC Thun
- founded 1898
- historically a lower leagues team, managed promotion to the 1st Division in 2002 and was relegated back to 2nd Division since 2008 – two years later, summer 2010, the team managed to return to Super League
- playing great football, Thun reached the 2nd place in the championship 04/05
- eliminated subsequently Malmö FF and Dynamo Kiev in Champions League Qualification and Sparta Prague in the Group stage, and reached UEFA-Cup 1/16-Final in 05/06
- Well-known former players: Fabio Coltorti, Alex Frei, Eldin Jakupovic, Mauro Lustrinelli, Marc Schneider, Marco Streller, Adriano Pimenta, Andres Gerber
- Well-known coaches: Georges Bregy, Hanspeter Latour, Urs Schönenberger


Future Stadium: Thun Süd
- UEFA/League Capacity: 10’500
- Artificial pitch
- Includes also a mall
- Under construction, projected opening: Summer 2011
- Perspectives: In December 2007, the citizens of Thun have approved with 60% yes-votes the zone plan for the mostly privately financed project after they had rejected 2 years earlier a facility for a stadium project financed by the city budget. The head of the city administration said honestly, looking back, he is very happy that the citizens had rejected the first project which had been promoted by his administration, because it would have caused big financial problems for the city.

http://www.fcthun.ch/typo3temp/pics/277af29f95.jpg
http://www.fcthun.ch/typo3temp/pics/277af29f95.jpg
http://www.fcthun.ch/typo3temp/pics/20004830c1.jpg
http://www.fcthun.ch/typo3temp/pics/20004830c1.jpg
http://www.ittenbrechbuehl.ch/files/images/450-0-0-100/dac7f389f4160cd5a324ac51f4ab5ab6.jpg
http://www.ittenbrechbuehl.ch/files/images/450-0-0-100/dac7f389f4160cd5a324ac51f4ab5ab6.jpg

Current Stadium: Lachen
- League Capacity: 9’000
- Average (Challenge) League attendance FC Thun 09/10: 2’400
- Maximum (Challenge) League attendance FC Thun 09/10: 4’700
- Perspectives: Stadium will be replaced by “Thun Süd”. Until then, FC Thun plays with an exemption permission in the Lachen stadium.

http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/thun.jpg
http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/thun.jpg

Challenge League (2nd Division)

Aarau

City Population: 20'000
Agglomeration: 70’000


SL-Team: FC Aarau
- founded 1902
- 3x champion
- 1x cup-winner
- Draw (0:0) in Giuseppe Meazza against Milan in European Champions Cup ’93
- nickname “The Un-Relegateables”, as a small team playing in the 1st Division since 29 years in a row! In summer 2010, the fairytale came to an end. Aarau was relegated to 2nd Division.
- Well-known former players: Roberto Di Matteo, Heinz Hermann, Emanuel Pogatetz, Wynton Rufer, Ciriaco Sforza, David Zdrilic, Pascal Zuberbühler
- Well-known former coaches: Ottmar Hitzfeld, Rolf Fringer, Gilbert Gress


Future Stadium: Torfeld Süd
- League Capacity: 10’000
- Perspectives: The citizens of Aarau have approved a planning facility in October 2007 and the public share of the joint ownership for the stadium in the amount of CHF 17 Mio in February 2008 in the respective public votes. The project which includes the redevelopment of a whole neighbourhood with housing space, industry, craft and leisure has then been in the stage of public involvement in the configuration plan.
- The stadium itself will feature a shop, an underground athletics track and a big skate park (the replacement for an already existing skate park on the same spot), and a couple of flats in a separate building. There is also most probably gonna be realized a new train stop of a regional railway line in front of the stadium.
- The citizens have agreed also in a third vote on the „special zone Torfeld Süd“ in June 2010 to the project with a share of 70% YES-votes. There are at the moment four objections pending against this zone, so the date of the probable groundbreaking could not be fixed yet. The relegation to Challenge League doesn’t have a negative influence on the project.
- A first project on the same spot had been dismissed by the population of Aarau in a vote in 2005 – the population was most of all negative about the size of the shopping center connected with it – the commercial space has been thereafter reduced in the new project.

http://pictures.attention-ngn.com//portal/189/173146/products/1210706/1257254275.31_6_o.jpg
http://pictures.attention-ngn.com//portal/189/173146/products/1210706/1257254275.31_6_o.jpg
http://www.ebp.ch/dynimage/gbprojectsdetail/files/projektbilder/uw_torfeld-sud_480.jpg
http://www.ebp.ch/dynimage/gbprojectsdetail/files/projektbilder/uw_torfeld-sud_480.jpg

Current Stadium: Brügglifeld
- League Capacity: 9’000
- Average (Super) League attendance FC Aarau 09/10: 5’800
- Maximum (Super) League attendance FC Aarau 09/10: 7’900
- Perspectives: the stadium is not anymore approved for Super League football by the Swiss Football Association, the permission to play in this stadium has been extended though as Aarau is planning to build a new stadium

http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/aarau39.jpg
http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/aarau39.jpg


LUGANO

City Population: 60'000
Agglomeration: 140'000


CL-Team: FC Lugano
- founded 1904 / 2003
- The club founded 1904 was 3x champion and 3x cupwinner and went bankrupt in 2002. The remaining parts of the club merged with neighbour Malcantone Agno in 2003 which reached the 4th place in the 2nd Division in 2004. The club was subsequently renamed into AC Lugano, and last year FC Lugano.
- Well-known former players: Mauro Galvao, Dida, Christian Gimenez, Julio Hernan Rossi, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Otto Luttrop, Maurizio Ganz, Valon Behrami, Nestor Subiat, Ludovic Magnin, Kubilay Türkyilmaz, Claudio Sulser, Dario Zuffi, Christian Gross, Igor Shalimov, Mohammed Kallon, Gabriel Urdaneta, Mohamed Kader, Mario Gavranovic
- Well-known coaches: Alfredo Foni, Otto Luttrop, Albert Sing


Current stadium: Cornaredo
- League Capacity: 10’500
- Average League attendance FC Lugano 09/10: 1'600
- Maximum League attendance FC Lugano 09/10: 7’700
- World Cup 1954 venue
- During Euro 2008, Cornaredo was the home base / training camp of Sweden
- Perspectives: Lugano has decided to construct a new stand and in general renovating the existing Cornaredo stadium which is located in a neighbourhood that is anyway subject to the biggest development project of the city.
- In order to get the approving also for a possible promotion to Super League, the stadium needs 10’000 covered places of which minimum 2/3 seating, plus a range of additional facilities. Football supporters want of course also the athletics track removed, but Cornaredo is the main sport center for the city, and a solution for the athletes would need to be found first.
- However, there is still an option to build a completely new stadium on the 2nd floor of a commercial space in the same Cornaredo area.

http://www.disano.it/resources/RES/402882820aac7997010ab1519a1500d6_Lugano1.jpg



WINTERTHUR

City Population: 100'000
Agglomeration: 120'000


CL-team: FC Winterthur
- founded 1896
- 3x champion
- Leader of the all-time 2nd Division ranking
- FC Winterthur reached 1909 the final of the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, one of the first international tournaments of football history
- Winterthur has a good youth department with the U21-team playing in the 3rd Division which is exceptional for a traditional Challenge League club
- Well-know former players: Timo Konietzka, Fritz Künzli, Jogi Löw, Bora Milutinovic, Peter Risi, Dario Zuffi, Dieter Eckstein, Martin Andermatt, Daniel Gygax, José Gonçalves

Extension: Schützenwiese
- League Capacity: 8'000 – 10’300
- Projected groundbreaking Extension 1: 2014
- Groundbreaking Extension 2: depending on results, not earlier than 2014
- the reponsibles have decided against an iconic design and in favour of a flexible extension of single stands („British style“).
- the dedicated CHF 10 Million will be used to adapt the main stand to new requirements, increase the power of the floodlights and build a new all-seater stand opposite the main one
- if FC Winterthur manages to promote to Super League, the building permission needs to be ready to build two additional new stands behind the two goals in a similar style and extend the capacity to the needed 10‘000
http://files.newsnetz.ch/story/2/6/5/26577462/7/topelement.jpg
http://files.newsnetz.ch/story/2/6/5/26577462/7/topelement.jpg
http://www.fcwinterthur.ch/images/stories/stadion/stadionmodell_hp.jpg
http://www.fcwinterthur.ch/images/stories/stadion/stadionmodell_hp.jpg

Current stadium: Schützenwiese
- League Capacity: 8’500
- Average League attendance FC Winterthur 09/10: 2’400
- Maximum League attendance FC Winterthur 09/10: 3’300
- Real capacity of the current stadium is 15’000, but only 8’500 are allowed to pass the gates. There has been an evaluation of 4 possible locations for a new stadium approved for Super League by the Swiss Football League with a capacity of 10’300 (entirely covered, of which 7’000 seating).
- Two years ago, the city administration has decided to move forward and develop a concept concerning remodeling in stages of the current stadium at Schützenwiese (which is in possession of the city) until approximately 2015.

http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/SUI/Schuetzenwiese.jpg
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/SUI/Schuetzenwiese.jpg

Lancy

City Population: 30'000
Agglomeration: Geneva (780'000)


CL-Team: Servette FC Genève
- founded 1890
- 17x champion
- 7x cup-winner
- Servette is behind Grasshoppers all-time nr.2 in Swiss Football
- ¼-Finals in European Cup Winners Cup 1967, 1979 & UEFA-Cup 2002
- 2004 the corporation Servette with the professionals went bankrupt, but the association survived and continued with the U-21 team in the 3rd Division – meanwhile Servette association reached the 2nd Division
- Well-known former players: Trello Abegglen, Sonny Anderson, Jacques Fatton, Lucien Favre, Alex Frei, Mohamed Kader, Christian Karembeu, Patrick Müller, Oliver Neuville, Martin Petrov, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Alen Skoro, Philippe Senderos, John Eriksen, Fabrizio Zambrella, Julian Esteban, Igor Dobrowolski, José Sinval, Bernd Dörfel
- Well-known coaches: Lucien Favre, Vujadin Boskov, Gilbert Gress, Peter Pazmandy, Michel Renquin, Jürgen Sundermann, Karl Rappan


Stadium: Stade de Genève La Praille
- UEFA/League/Euro 2008 Capacity: 30’000
- Average League attendance Servette FC 09/10: 3’600
- Maximum League attendance Servette FC 09/10: 6’100
- Euro 2008 venue
- Charmilles stadium on a different location in Geneva was venue of World Cup 1954
- Perspectives: Servette is currently playing in the Challenge League but now with ambitions to promote to the Super League - meanwhile, the stadium is full rather for international games, concerts and special events of other kind of sports

http://www.super-servette.ch/div/div/lapraille.jpg
http://www.super-servette.ch/div/div/lapraille.jpg
http://www.stades.ch/praille_grenats.ch_-39_500x375.jpg
http://www.stades.ch/praille_grenats.ch_-39_500x375.jpg


Kriens

City Population: 30'000
Agglomeration: Luzern (200'000)


CL-Team: SC Kriens
- founded 1944
- played totally 23 years in the 2nd Division and 2 years in the 1st Division (93/94, 96/97)
- managed to recover from a one-year spell in 3rd Division and directly re-promote to 2nd Division last year which is a rare case as only 2 out of 48 teams promote from 3rd to 2nd Division
- SC Kriens has currently the biggest youth section of Swiss football which is also successful on various levels
- Well-known former players: Valentin Stocker, Fabio Coltorti, Thomas Häberli, Gabriel Urdaneta


Current stadium: Kleinfeld
- League Capacity: 5’100
- Average League attendance SC Kriens 09/10: 500
- Maximum League attendance SC Kriens 09/10: 800
- Perspectives: In case of a promotion to Super League, Kriens would most probably play in the new Swisspor Arena of FC Luzern which is located only 1 km from Kleinfeld

http://groundhopping.de/kriensg2.jpg
http://groundhopping.de/kriensg2.jpg


WIL

City Population: 20'000
Agglomeration: 70'000


CL-Team: FC Wil
- founded 1900
- 1x cup-winner
- FC Wil managed to move up from 4th to 2nd Division with today’s Stuttgart manager Christian Gross in charge on his first appointment as a head coach in the beginning of the 90-ies. Before this time, FC Wil had never been in the national spotlight. Between 2002 and 2004, Wil even played two years in the 1st Division, participated in UI-Cup and UEFA-Cup and won even the Swiss Cup 2004. On 3.11.2002, Wil won the 1st Division home game against superior regional rival FC St.Gallen with the result of 11:3! 3.11. became subsequently a holiday in Wil since then – Wil supporters celebrate it every year.
- Well-known former players: Charles Amoah, Daniel Imhof, Mauro Lustrinelli, Mart Poom, Moustapha Salifou
- Well-known coaches: Christian Gross, Hanspeter Latour, Marcel Koller, Uli Forte, Pierre-André Schürmann, Martin Andermatt


Possible Future Stadium: Bergholz (new)
- League Capacity: 6’000
- expandable
- artificial pitch planned
- Possible groundbreaking: 2012
- Possible opening: 2014
- The football stadium will become a remodelled Challenge League stadium, but would not be compatible for Super League.
- The project passed successfully the city parliament and the details are cleared up. The final say had the population of Wil which approved the project with a price tag of CHF 58 Million which includes the remodeling of the whole 50 years old sports center including ice rink, indoor and outdoor swimming pools on 27th November 2010 with 61% Yes-votes.

http://www.sektionkoma.ch/images/bilder_home/stadion2u.jpg
http://www.sektionkoma.ch/images/bilder_home/stadion2u.jpg
http://www.sektionkoma.ch/images/bilder_home/stadion1.jpg
http://www.sektionkoma.ch/images/bilder_home/stadion1.jpg

Current Stadium: Bergholz
- League Capacity: 5’700
- Average League attendance FC Wil 09/10: 900
- Maximum League attendance FC Wil 09/10: 1’200
- Perspectives: The city council has run a project competition and chosen a project and general contractor for the renovation/rebuilding of Bergholz sport center which includes also the stadium of FC Wil.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1153/976499025_b3402c8c0c.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1153/976499025_b3402c8c0c.jpg?v=0


Biel-Bienne

City Population: 50’000
Agglomeration: 90’000


CL-Team: FC Biel-Bienne
- founded 1896
- 1x champion
- Well-known former player: Robert Ballamann
- Well-known coach: Jupp Derwall


Future Stadium: Stades de Bienne
- UEFA/League Capacity: 6’000
- Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd2tu2VM7yk
- Perspectives: In December 2007, Biel citizens have approved with 75% yes-votes the development plan “Bönzingenfeld” which involves a retail store, fitness gym, offices, a public ice rink, a curling hall, and a Double-stadium (“Stades de Bienne”), one for Football (6’000) and one for Hockey (7’000) right next to eachother and linked by a covered public place. The football stadium is expandable to 10’000 capacity in case of a promotion to Super League. There was however a second public vote necessary in March 2010 because of considerable additional costs before the project can really start and it was also successful.
- Meanwhile the building permit has been issued. The project is in the final planning and negotiation phase.

http://www.glsag.ch/Wettbewerbe/Stades%20de%20Bienne/image2.jpg
http://www.glsag.ch/Wettbewerbe/Stades%20de%20Bienne/image2.jpg
http://www.glsag.ch/Wettbewerbe/Stades%20de%20Bienne/image1.jpg
http://www.glsag.ch/Wettbewerbe/Stades%20de%20Bienne/image1.jpg
http://www.glsag.ch/Wettbewerbe/Stades%20de%20Bienne/image4.jpg
http://www.glsag.ch/Wettbewerbe/Stades%20de%20Bienne/image4.jpg
http://files.newsnetz.ch/story/1/9/4/19470729/4/topelement.jpg
http://files.newsnetz.ch/story/1/9/4/19470729/4/topelement.jpg

Current Stadium: Gurzelen
- League Capacity: 15’000
- Average League attendance FC Biel-Bienne 09/10: 800
- Maximum League attendance FC Biel-Bienne 09/10: 1'300
- Perspectives: the stadium will be replaced by Stades de Bienne in a different location – the Gurzelen property is subject to redevelopment, possibly by the adjacent Omega (Swatch) headquarters

http://www.fcbiel-bienne.ch/con/cms/upload/01-Home/stadion-gurzelen.jpg
http://www.fcbiel-bienne.ch/con/cms/upload/01-Home/stadion-gurzelen.jpg



Vaduz

Vaduz - Village Population: 5’000
Liechtenstein - State Population: 35’000


CL-Team: FC Vaduz
- founded 1931
- 37x cup-winner of Liechtenstein (Liechtenstein teams play in the Swiss Leagues system, but have their own Cup Competition)
- Clearly the best team from Liechtenstein (totally 6 Football Clubs)
- Elimination of Ujpest Budapest in UEFA-Cup Qualification 2006 and subsequent home-victory against FC Basel (2:1)
- Well-known former players: Goran Obradovic, Steve Gohouri
- Well-known coaches: Hanspeter Zaugg, Mats Gren


Stadium: Rheinpark
- UEFA/League Capacity: 8’000
- Average League attendance FC Vaduz 09/10: 800
- Maximum League attendance FC Vaduz 09/10: 1’100
- Perspectives: Rheinpark allows Vaduz and Liechtenstein to play their international matches on home soil – if Vaduz move up again to Super League, they will have to enlarge their stadium to 10’000 places – plans for this exist.

http://www.btsv1895.de/hopblog/wp-content/060824vaduz/vaduz1000.jpg
http://www.btsv1895.de/hopblog/wp-content/060824vaduz/vaduz1000.jpg

YVERDON

City Population: 30'000
Agglomeration: 30'000


CL-team : Yverdon-Sport
- founded 1948
- managed promotion to 1st Division 3 times in club history
- well-known former players: Ludovic Magnin, Mario Gavranovic
- well-known coaches: Lucien Favre


Current stadium: Stade Municipal
- League Capacity: 6’600
- Average League attendance Yverdon-Sports 09/10: 1’100
- Maximum League attendance Yverdon-Sports 09/10: 2’100
- Perspectives: Unclear. Yverdon has the ambition to become one of the top clubs in the western part of Switzerland. But there is no concrete stadium project. They are rather pondering of playing in stadiums of other cities like Lausanne, Geneva or Neuchâtel in case of a promotion.

http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/yverdon.jpg
http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/yverdon.jpg


Lausanne

City Population: 120'000
Agglomeration: 310'000


CL-Team: Lausanne-Sport
- founded 1896/2003
- predecessor club Lausanne-Sports went bankrupt in 2003, the new club has meanwhile managed to return back to the 2nd Division starting with the U21-team of the old club which played in the 4th Division and was not affected by the bankruptcy
- predecessor Lausanne-Sports was one of the most successful teams of Swiss football, nicknamed “Kings of the Night” in the 60-ies because they were mostly playing in the evenings under floodlights and virtually unbeatable at home: 7x champion, 9x cup-winner, UEFA-Cup ½-Finals 1958, European Cup Winners Cup ¼-Finals 1965, and it was the team where the Swiss “Player of the Century” Stéphane Chapuisat started his professional career where already his father and grand-father played an important role
- reached Europa League group stage as a Second Division team in 2010, eliminating the First Division teams Banja Luka, Randers and Lokomotive Moscow
- Well-known former players: Max Abegglen, Giancarlo Antognoni, Stéphane Chapuisat, Blaise Nkufo, Charles Antenen, Fabio Celestini, Lorik Cana, Fritz Künzli, Andres Gerber, Léonard Thurre
- Well-known coaches: Karl Rappan, Peter Pazmandy, Umberto Barberis. Miroslav Blazevic

Possible future stadium: Stade du Léman
- UEFA/League Capacity: 13’000
- Projected opening: 2015
- Artificial pitch planned
- Perspectives: After a successful public vote in spring 2009, the new custom-built Football Stadium is planned to be realized in a new sports park near the lake together with an olympic swimming pool and meeting rooms. The rendering below is a vision and not a concrete project yet - the architectural contest is starting now in winter 2010/2011. The start of the building is projected for 2013, the inauguration towards 2015.
– athletics would move to a new stadium close to today's Pontaise with a capacity of ca. 13’000 – the property of the current stadium at Pontaise would be redeveloped for an eco-residential district

http://www.agauchetoute.info/public/images/w0101.jpg
http://www.agauchetoute.info/public/images/w0101.jpg

Current stadium: Stade Olympique de la Pontaise
- UEFA/League Capacity: 16’000
- Average League attendance Lausanne-Sport 09/10: 1’400
- Maximum League attendance Lausanne-Sport 09/10: 4’900
- Average League attendance Le Mont 09/10: 300
- Maximum League attendance Le Mont 09/10: 1’400
- World Cup 1954 venue (including the opening game and a semi-final)
- During Euro 2008, Pontaise was the home base / training camp of the Netherlands
- Perspectives: the stadium is also used for the yearly world-class athletics event “Athletissima” (IAAF Diamond League 2010) and as Lausanne is the HQ of the International Olympic Committee, it has also a certain symbolic meaning. It has been built in the current form in 1949 and was one of the venues of World Cup 1954 – a refurbishment has been refused during recent years and the stadium is bound to be deconstructed in favour of a new ecologically progressive residential district for 2’000 inhabitants around the years 2016-2018. One section of the local monument protection organisation has a few days ago in December 2010 requested the stadium to be taken on the list of protected monuments as the only entirely preserved stadium of the 50-ies in Switzerland, but they have low chances to succeed with the claim as in contrary to other sorts of buildings it doesn’t make much sense to preserve outdated stadia.

http://www.ls-athletisme.ch/documents/Entrainements/Documents/Pontaise.jpg
http://www.ls-athletisme.ch/documents/Entrainements/Documents/Pontaise.jpg


Schaffhausen

City Population: 30'000
Agglomeration: 70'000


CL-Team: FC Schaffhausen
- founded 1896
- played 54 years in the 2nd Division, partially also lower, then Super League 2004-2007, now back in the 2nd Division
- Well-known former players: Roberto Di Matteo, Jogi Löw, Geni Meier, Fabio Coltorti, Marcel Herzog, Sébastien Roth, Daniel Pavlovic
- Well-known coaches: Jupp Derwall, Jürgen Seeberger


Possible future stadium: FCS Park
- UEFA/League Capacity: 10’000
- Possible Groundbreaking: 2011
- Artificial pitch
- Solar panels on the roof
- 100% privately financed through the rents of various commercial tenants (specialty shop, outlets, medical services, gym)
- Webpage: http://www.fcspark.ch/Home/tabid/123/language/en-US/Default.aspx
- Perspectives: even though Schaffhausen has been relegated to the Challenge League, the project of the new stadium is still pursued - the city parliament has passed a change of the zone classification of the land where the stadium is planned to be built. The building permission has been approved in November 2009. A new general contractor owned by the FC Schaffhausen president has taken over the project from the old one who has quit. Additional to several smaller tenants the main retail tenant has been found in November 2010. As this will be a furniture retail warehouse and not a shopping center, the whole project will be reduced in size from CHF 140 Million to 95 Million. The new design should be ready by the beginning of 2011.

http://www.fcspark.ch/Portals/4/Gallery/Album/1/slide0040_image044.jpg
http://www.fcspark.ch/Portals/4/Gallery/Album/1/slide0040_image044.jpg
http://www.fcspark.ch/Portals/4/Gallery/Album/1/slide0380_image060.jpg
http://www.fcspark.ch/Portals/4/Gallery/Album/1/slide0380_image060.jpg


Current stadium: Breite
- League Capacity: 7’300
- Average League attendance FC Schaffhausen 09/10: 800
- Maximum League attendance FC Schaffhausen 09/10: 1’900
- Breite has been host to many games of youth national teams like the U21
- Perspectives: Breite is to be replaced by FCS Park – the Breite area will in this case be redevelopped - including most probably housing space.

http://www.swissgrounds.ch/Swiss_Grounds/schaffhausenfc/8.jpg
http://www.swissgrounds.ch/Swiss_Grounds/schaffhausenfc/8.jpg



Wohlen

City Population: 10'000
Agglomeration: 20'000


CL-team: FC Wohlen
- founded 1904
- historically a lower leagues team, Wohlen promoted to the 2nd Division in 2002 and has since established itself in this league, sometimes even being in touch with the top teams
- Well-known former players: Ciriaco Sforza


Current stadium: Niedermatten
- League Capacity: 3’000
- Average League attendance FC Wohlen 09/10: 1’000
- Maximum League attendance FC Wohlen 09/10: 1’800
- The stadium was opened in 2004 and is Challenge League compatible
- Niedermatten was the venue of the Women's Swiss Cup Final 2010. It was the first stand-alone event with live TV coverage. So far, the Women's Cup Final has always been held together with the Men's Cup Final on the same day and in the same stadium

http://www.wohlen.ch/de/images/4089419f62bbb.jpg
http://www.wohlen.ch/de/images/4089419f62bbb.jpg


LOCARNO

City Population: 10'000
Agglomeration: 60'000


CL-team : FC Locarno
- founded 1906
- the club has been many times promoted to 2nd Division during its existence and has played also 1st Division long ago – last promotion to 2nd Division was in 2005/2006
- well-known former player: Oliver Neuville


Current stadium: Lido
- League Capacity: 11’000
- Average League attendance FC Locarno 09/10: 700
- Maximum League attendance FC Locarno 09/10: 2’300
- No concrete project for a new stadium planned – maybe Bellinzona will build a new stadium in the Magadino plains which could be used by FC Locarno as well in case of a promotion
- In the beginning of 2010 some improvements for the away-sector and accident prevention standards have been approved by the city for this municipal stadium

http://www.fclocarno.ch/image.php?image=stadio/08.jpg
http://www.fclocarno.ch/image.php?image=stadio/08.jpg






NYON

City Population: 20'000
Agglomeration: Geneva (780'000)


CL-team : Stade Nyonnais
- founded 1905 (merger of FC Nyon & Fortuna Nyon)
- managed two years ago for the 2nd time in club history to promote to 2nd Division
- well-known coach: Peter Pazmandy


Current stadium: Colovray
- League Capacity: 7’200
- Average League attendance Stade Nyonnais 09/10: 700
- Maximum League attendance Stade Nyonnais 09/10: 1'600
- Colovray is a multi-sport center which opened in 1991. Four years later, UEFA headquarters were moving from Bern to Nyon. They were located just on the other side of the street at the Colovray sports center.
- The stadium is also home of the Swiss rugby champion RC Nyon
- Colovray hosted the finals of the U19 European Championship 2004 and all the Female U17 European Championships
- During Euro 2008, Colovray was the home base / training camp of Turkey
- Perspectives: UEFA took over the rights of the sports centre from the city of Nyon in spring 2010. Stade Nyonnais and RC Nyon can still use the facilities and the stadium will be slightly refurbished.

http://www.stadenyonnais.ch/cmsFiles/Image/Centre%20sportif/Colovray-terrain%20no-5-2.jpg
http://www.stadenyonnais.ch/cmsFiles/Image/Centre%20sportif/Colovray-terrain%20no-5-2.jpg





CHIASSO

City Population: 10'000
Agglomeration: Como (270'000)


CL-team : FC Chiasso
- founded 1905
- the club first started in Swiss football, played then for ten years 1913-1923 in Lombardian Leagues and returned to the Swiss Football Association after that
- played for a long time in the 1st Division, between 1934-1965 more than 30 years in a row, with the 2nd place in 1950/51 as best result, together with three participations in the Swiss Cup Semi-Finals
- the so far last spell in the top division was in the season 1992-93 - in recent years switching forth and back between 2nd Division and 3rd Division
- Well-known former players: Valon Behrami, Rafael de Araujo, José Altafini, Otto Pfister

Current stadium: Comunale
- League Capacity: 11’200
- Average (Third Division) League attendance FC Chiasso 09/10: 500
- Maximum (Third Division) League attendance FC Chiasso 09/10: 1’300
- Perspectives: There are no future projects known. Certain refurbishments could become an issue. A new stadium though is very unlikely.

http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/chiasso.jpg
http://www.groundhopping.ch/bilder/chiasso.jpg


DELéMONT

City Population: 10'000
Agglomeration: 20‘000


CL-team : SR Delémont
- founded 1909
- the club has managed promotion to the First Division for the first time in 1946, but relegated back to Second Division at the end of the following season
– in the next decades, Delémont managed promotion to the First Division a few times, but never stayed a long time, the last endeavour in the top league being the season 2002/03
- Since 2003, the team has been switching between 2nd and 3rd Division with another promotion to 2nd Division in summer 2010
- Well-known former coaches: Michel Decastel, Heinz Hermann, Michel Renquin


Current stadium: La Blancherie
- League Capacity: 5’300
- Average (Third Division) League attendance SR Delémont 09/10: 600
- Maximum (Third Division) League attendance SR Delémont 09/10: 3’000
- Perspectives: Delémont is planning to renovate its homeground (like new dressing rooms) which are necessary to comply with the new standards for Challenge League stadia.

http://www.tsr.ch/2010/11/11/17/36/2681756.image?w=480&h=270
http://www.tsr.ch/2010/11/11/17/36/2681756.image?w=480&h=270

Great post railcity :applause: :applause:

There have been built some nice stadiums in the last couple of years and it looks like there will be more in the future.
As a result of this attendances are rising very well, from an average of 5600 in 2000 to 9600 in 2007.
In my opinion there are only 2 really weak stadiums left in the Super League, Thun and Aarau. Hopefully the projected stadiums for this cities can be realizied, it won't be easy.
I hope Servette can raise to the 1st Division again soon, shame to see such a stadium in the Challenge League.

great post railcity!

I really like the new Letzigrund, I should have bought some tickets fro the Weltklasse Zürich. Maybe I go to buy some for next year.

If Aarau or Thun would went to 2nd Division we would have one bad stadium less (at least if the replacing club would be Servette)

Complements, true that! great post! nice intro!

:applause: for this very informative thread, thank you very much !

Exellent work Railcity - a man couldn't ask for a more comprehensive overview. Some nice new developments over there as well.

great post, great development :applause:

Interesting!! Thanks for posting.

...between melancholy and exuberance....wild and peaceful like a New Orleans funeral....Hardturm-Stadium is history....

Yesterday, after the game against Neuchâtel Xamax, fans of the home team Grasshoppers-Club Zurich celebrate the "Finissage" of their stadium and take their personal souvenirs home - happy deconstruction of a stadium as a social event. Very popular are information boards (eg. toilet signs, commercials), the chairs, the mirrors from the toilets, and of course a piece of the "holy pitch". The Club is giving away thousands of pizza-boxes for this purpose. In return, thanks to the fans, they save some money on the demolition company. ;)

The game was lost 1:2, the team is struggling and currently ranked in the lower half of the table - but on this day, it was not the main issue. After honouring the biggest fan of GC, handicapped Flavio Sturzenegger who nearly hasn't been missing any home game since 30 years, the biggest successes of Grasshoppers in 78 years history on the home ground Hardturm are shown on a big video screen.

photo-report (various sources):

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/06784810.jpg

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/06784893.jpg

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/06784892.jpg

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/0041.jpg

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/06784867.jpg

http://grasshoppers-zh.ch/gallery/albums/userpics/DSC03995.JPG

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/06784891.jpg

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/06784885.jpg

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/06784868.jpg

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/06784886.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6572/dsc03944yv7.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2855/hardturm1ga7.jpg

http://www.gcz.ch/typo3temp/pics/0f58bbda92.jpg

http://grasshoppers-zh.ch/gallery/albums/userpics/DSC04036.JPG

http://grasshoppers-zh.ch/gallery/albums/userpics/DSC04044.JPG

^^
Hm, what will happen now with the 'old' Hardturm?
The new stadium won't be built anytime soon.
Will they demolish it now or wait till the new stadium is ready to be built?

^^
Hm, what will happen now with the 'old' Hardturm?
The new stadium won't be built anytime soon.
Will they demolish it now or wait till the new stadium is ready to be built?

They have already successfully taken many legal hurdles - the current is the last one. Then they will based on this look at it once more from the commercial point of view which will not take much time, as the data is already there. It's quite probable that there will be a decision in about 2-3 months. And until then, the stadium (or what is left of it after yesterday ;)) will still be standing there.

very nice!

Good thread very interesting, Switzerland is a great place but unfortunately it is the hq of fifa and they are plastic obsessed. I need to terminate them.

Very nice projects and existing venues. Truthfully, I had no idea.

...between melancholy and exuberance....wild and peaceful like a New Orleans funeral....Hardturm-Stadium is history....

Yesterday, after the game against Neuchâtel Xamax, fans of the home team Grasshoppers-Club Zurich celebrate the "Finissage" of their stadium and take their personal souvenirs home - happy deconstruction of a stadium as a social event. Very popular are information boards (eg. toilet signs, commercials), the chairs, the mirrors from the toilets, and of course a piece of the "holy pitch". The Club is giving away thousands of pizza-boxes for this purpose. In return, thanks to the fans, they save some money on the demolition company. ;)

The game was lost 1:2, the team is struggling and currently ranked in the lower half of the table - but on this day, it was not the main issue. After honouring the biggest fan of GC, handicapped Flavio Sturzenegger who nearly hasn't been missing any home game since 30 years, the biggest successes of Grasshoppers in 78 years history on the home ground Hardturm are shown on a big video screen.

photo-report (various sources):

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/13847/06784892.jpg



I believe Millwall used to do a variation of this at away grounds - helping keep costs of demolition down, etc. Unfortunately, on a number of occasions that grounds weren't scheduled for redevelopment.

The first football league match in the new Letzigrund stadium: a Derby between FC Zürich and Grasshopper-Club (4-0). The first goal after only 40 seconds by Tunisian international Yassine Chickhaoui.

http://www.20min.ch/diashow/14167/06911602.jpg

Video of the game:
http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fsportpano%2F2007%2F09%2Fsportpano_20070923.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A19%3A03.930%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A23%3A57.885

Video pre-game:
http://www.sf.tv/var/videoplayer.php?videourl=http%3A%2F%2Freal.xobix.ch%2Framgen%2Fsfdrs%2Fvod%2Fsportpano%2F2007%2F09%2Fsportpano_20070923.rm%3Fstart%3D0%3A17%3A45.494%26amp%3Bend%3D0%3A19%3A03.930

Cool! Nice renders;)

Sports arena Allmend: The city of Lucerne plans to go ahead with the project KOI which should be realised for 160 mill. Euro. City and investors have signed a declaration of intent, after the planned high rises were limited to 80 metres. The project KOI was designed by the Lucernese architects Daniele Marques and Iwan Bühler. Investor is Credit Suisse. It will include two residential high-rises 80m and 75m (with special serviced flats for elderly people and "long-stay" flats for people who would like to stay for a few months in Lucerne like expats, students etc.), public gym & indoor swimming pool, service and office space. Allmend should nevertheless stay a greenbelt recreation area. And just today, there has been also the presentation of local and regional authorities concerning the project of a new train station/route of the Zentralbahn (direction Interlaken & Engelberg) below Allmend.

The citizens of Lucerne vote in February 2008 on the change of the Building Zone and in the case of a "Yes", in Autumn 2008 on the construction loan. The stadium itself costs 40 million Euro, will be UEFA-conform and host more than 16 800 seats. FC Lucerne has to contribute 6 million Euro.

http://www.zisch.ch/boxalino/files/BXMediaOne173256file.jpg

http://www.zisch.ch/boxalino/files/BXMediaOne173257file.jpg

http://www.zisch.ch/boxalino/files/BXMediaOne173287file.jpg

In the cities of Thun and Biel, today, the voters have clearly approved two big (considering the size of the two cities) stadium projects. In Thun, the citizens have agreed with 60.1 percent "Yes"-votes to changes in the city's building zone plan necessary to build the new stadium. The new stadium right at the motorway exit "Thun South" will offer space for 10,000 spectators. Professional markets are planned in the basement. The CHF 170-million project is financed privately. In 2006, a first new stadium building project had failed at the ballots, primarily because it partially relied on state financing.

http://www.20min.ch/images/content/2/6/1/26131932/3/1.jpg

Thun with its 40'000 inhabitants is located 20 km south of Berne and is the gate to a stunning alpine tourist region and hosts the largest garrison of the country. Traditionally a lower leagues team, FC Thun is playing in the national Super League since 2002 and sensationally managed to qualify for Champions League in 2005 with victories against teams like Dynamo Kiev, Sparta Prague, Hamburger SV and Malmö FF in the course of their European campaign of that season.

Also in Biel, the voters support the construction of new sports stadia: The city builds probably till 2011 three new arenas for Football, Hockey and Curling. The citizens agreed to the necessary change of the building code, a land acquisition, the development and the building law for the private investors with "Yes"-shares between 72 and 75 percent. So, the people of Biel approved the probably most extensive construction project in the history of the city. On the field Bözingen will be built a football stadium with 6000 places, other football fields, an ice hall with 7000 places and a Curling hall.

http://www.20min.ch/images/content/2/4/8/24840988/10/1.jpg

The bilingual city of Biel-Bienne with its 50'000 inhabitants is located 35 km north-west of Berne. Biel is a centre of micro and precision mechanics and something like the "world watch capital", hosting the headquarters and R&D of Rolex and world market leader Swatch Group (incl. Omega). FC Biel is playing in 1.Liga (3rd Division) and unsuccessfully trying to promote to the 2nd Division since many years. EHC Biel is a former Swiss champion in Hockey playing currently in the 2nd Division.

http://v3.bielertagblatt.ch/images/dossier/medaillons_2007/1109_stades04.jpg

http://v3.bielertagblatt.ch/images/dossier/medaillons_2007/1109_stades06.jpg

The AFG Arena in St.Gallen (cap.: 21'000) is making progress:

http://www.stadion-sg.ch/portaldata/1/Moduledata/166/sv_454_1_1.jpg

http://www.stadion-sg.ch/portaldata/1/Moduledata/166/sv_451_1_1.jpg

http://www.stadion-sg.ch/portaldata/1/Moduledata/166/sv_452_1_1.jpg

- Already on 25th May will be Stadium Opening.
- On 30th May, Switzerland will play its last preparation game for Euro 08 in the AFG-Arena against Liechtenstein.
- On 5th July, there will be the official Opening Party with the home team FC St.Gallen (together with BK Copenhagen the oldest still existing football club in Continental Europe)

too boring :sleepy:

too boring :sleepy:

Too critical. ;)

swiss stadiums aren't very exciting. A lot of people said it here!
They are just a little cold. it's not a critic, just a view.

Swiss stadiums are awesome considering the size of the country.

Look at the "Lille new dome stadium" tomorrow and you will see a TRUE stadium :okay:

I wonder... French can make a lot of nice things, but they have a big mouth too...:nuts:
Let´s see if they put there money where there mouth is...

Swiss stadiums are awesome considering the size of the country.

Yeah. St.Gallen has about 70'000 inhabitants. Comparable in France to eg. Calais or Mérignac. For this size of city, the football stadium is really quite okay, IMHO. :)

Great news! Today, in three Swiss cities plebiscites took place with regard to the construction of new sports stadia. The result is three times "YES"!

http://www.pro-vfb-stadion.de/images/stadienbilder/ausland/mittellandarena1.jpg
(picture shows an old render)

FC Aarau can be glad about a new stadium. The citizens of the city of Aarau said clearly "Yes" to a loan of 17 Mil. CHF (15 Mil. USD). The joint ownership interest of the city in the stadium in the "Torfeld Süd" was favoured with 3747 Yes against 1928 No.

With 3624 "Yes" against 2004 "No" a yearly loan of 450,000 CHF for the polysportive use with Rolly Rock, Indoor-athletics and Beachvolleyball was accepted as well.

The stadium will be designed for 10,000 spectators. It will cost 36 Mil. CHF and include a shopping centre, restaurant, offices and flats.The turnkey solution will be realised by the general contractor Hauser, Rutishauser, Suter AG (HRS).


http://www.zisch.ch/openmedia_custom/files/BXMediaOne190670file.jpg

The Luzern citizens have agreed to the change of the zone plan and the project engineering loan (9.95 million CHF) for a new sports arena on the Allmend with 11'530 "Yes" (53.8%) against 9898 negative votes. With this approval, the Luzern citizens show their basic support to the idea of a new sports arena and the project KOI can in detail be planned. The project KOI includes the football stadium, the sports building with indoor swimming pool, double gymnasium, fitness centre, office and shopping space, as well as two high rises with a total of 300 flats. After the detailed planning will be finished, the final decision on the Construction Loan will be taken by the citizens in a vote in Autumn.

Animation KOI: http://media10.simplex.tv/content/87/89/2375/index.html


In the city Zug the new ice stadium with outside ice field can be built: with a majority of 56 percent, the citizens of the city Zug agreed to the construction gross loan of 60.9 Mil. CHF.

more info: http://www.zisch.ch/navigation/top_main_nav/nachrichten/zentralschweiz/zug/detail.htm?client_request_className=NewsItem&client_request_contentOID=266712

On 29th February, only 82 days after the successful public vote, FC Thun local striker Milaim Rama deposited during a small ceremony the building application at the city administration.

In comparison with previous renderings, the stadium (10'000) and the shopping centre/construction market are now physically divided:

http://www.fcthun.ch/typo3temp/pics/277af29f95.jpg

http://www.fcthun.ch/typo3temp/pics/20004830c1.jpg

http://www.fcthun.ch/typo3temp/pics/6aa709d57a.jpg

The shopping centre is scheduled for opening in spring 2010, the stadium in summer 2010.

http://www.fcthun.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/diverses/200802_Pressemappe.pdf

perhaps i will sleep during this euro :lol:
no i'm joking

perhaps i will sleep during this euro :lol:
no i'm joking

Yes, it looks like you are a real football supporter, not interested in the sport in common, just look for the architecture, poor guy...
By the way, what should be that kind of ruins? Terrible this ground of Lille, a shame for the French football league...
http://www.stadiumguide.com/lille4.jpg

:lol: you don't have the sense of humour

:lol: you don't have the sense of humour

Do you call that humour? I would say its more dumb scoff...

perhaps i will sleep during this euro :lol:
no i'm joking

We KNOW that you think French stadiums are the best thing on earth and Swiss stadiums are shit. You have mentioned it many times. And we love you, too. But we would really like this forum to stay spam-free, thank you!

I have nothing against critics, by the way. Critics are good. Scepticism is cool as well. But critics mean facts, arguments, opinions...not snobbish SPAMMING....

I like the swiss stadiums.
Small, but therefore high quality

Small yes, but cosy looking! I think I have the perfect word to describe them: swiss!

They look like fine pieces of precision timing! Maybe lacking a bit of madness or maybe I'm just not a fan of the new Zurich stadium. Still it has character. The others may just look a bit plain but functional, just like my old Swatch!



Still, I prefer to watch hockey games when I go to Switzerland!

renders from next EA'euro2008 . I think it gives a better feeling than the pics posted till now :lol:

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8079/eurosmallpo3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8219/euro2smallbg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/112/euro3smallgr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4057/euro4smallww5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/2252/euro5smallrl3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7346/euro6smallou3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/9567/euro7smallmo0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/958/euro8smalltq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

wo
best pc stadiums i have ever seen. Great details.
But this one looks unreal
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/112/euro3smallgr5.jpg
How steep is 2nd tier? :D

it is swiss "secret touch" :lol:
It's just awful!! IMO :D

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/112/euro3smallgr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The application for the planning permission concerning the 10'000 seats football stadium in Schaffhausen (a nice town in the north of Switzerland with a population of 34'000) has been submitted today. The current renderings differ partially from the original ones posted on the first page ("2nd Division clubs").

The goal of the project is to finance the stadium without any public money. It will amount to 130 Mio CHF and will feature additionally to the stadium a shopping centre, business hotel, medical practises, physio-therapy, fitness centre, office space and solar panels on the roof.

The construction is scheduled for spring '09 - summer '11.

http://www.fcspark.ch/galerie/28.03.2008/FCS-PARK--V36_013.jpg

http://www.fcspark.ch/

sorry again but i don't like the design at all :(

- Perspectives: it will be the new home and custom-built stadium for two teams: Grasshoppers and FC Zurich, the building permission on a state level has been achieved, some neighbours are still pondering though to move the case to Federal Court, and then, depending on the duration, the private real estate investor has to decide if he is still interested in the project - generally, the stadium which includes also offices and a shopping mall is expected to open its gates in 2011

------------------------------------------------------------------------
First of all thanks for the awesome posting, railcity.

BTW, almost 8.5months have passed since you said some neighboring residents of Stadion Zürich is thinking of moving the case to Federal Court. Hasn't there been any news about that? I wish they give up the lawsuit.

But judging from "move the case to Federal Court", did they already file a suit against bulding the stadium in lower court(and lose the case?) or are they considering going directly to Federal Court?

If buliding a fantastic stadium like this is delayed or in worst case cancelled by the lawsuit, it will be real saddness.

http://www.fascination-stadium.com/images/em2008/zurich2.jpg

http://www.fascination-stadium.com/images/em2008/zurich.jpg

BTW, almost 8.5months have passed since you said some neighboring residents of Stadion Zürich is thinking of moving the case to Federal Court. Hasn't there been any news about that? I wish they give up the lawsuit.

But judging from "move the case to Federal Court", did they already file a suit against bulding the stadium in lower court(and lose the case?) or are they considering going directly to Federal Court?

If buliding a fantastic stadium like this is delayed or in worst case cancelled by the lawsuit, it will be real saddness.


Yes, the residents lost the case in the Lower Court and now 3 weeks ago also in the Federal Court.

At the same time however, the Federal Court also rejected a remonstrance of the investors concerning the need to apply for a special authorization concerning the lowering of the groundwater level. The main issue here is time. Even if the application will be successful, opponents of the project would have the possibility again to move up to Federal Court with this, if they want to. Currently the investors are defining a strategy on how to move on.

The opponents of the project are a group of flowerpower-generation ex-hippies who are older and richer now and bought some nice real estate nearby, and have become even more narrow-minded than their parent-generation. They want to live in the middle of the city and have all the amenities, but there should be no noise at all :bash:, and no football stadium in the same district.

It's totally undemocratic. The stadium has been approved by the city population in a vote. And every city district has to host some of the public infrastructure. That's the concept of a city. If they don't like it, they should move to the country-side IMHO....

Yes, the residents lost the case in the Lower Court and now 3 weeks ago also in the Federal Court.

At the same time however, the Federal Court also rejected a remonstrance of the investors concerning the need to apply for a special authorization concerning the lowering of the groundwater level. The main issue here is time. Even if the application will be successful, opponents of the project would have the possibility again to move up to Federal Court with this, if they want to. Currently the investors are defining a strategy on how to move on.

The opponents of the project are a group of flowerpower-generation ex-hippies who are older and richer now and bought some nice real estate nearby, and have become even more narrow-minded than their parent-generation. They want to live in the middle of the city and have all the amenities, but there should be no noise at all :bash:, and no football stadium in the same district.

It's totally undemocratic. The stadium has been approved by the city population in a vote. And every city district has to host some of the public infrastructure. That's the concept of a city. If they don't like it, they should move to the country-side IMHO....

Thanks for your detailed explanations. BTW maybe they have to lower the groundwater level in order to build the stadium????? I have little knowledge of construction but that doesn't make sense to me. Sorry for my ignorance :nuts::nuts::nuts:

BTW judging from "They want in the middle of the city", maybe the stadium will be located downtown of Zurich? If so, it's a little surprise because newly built stadiums tend to be located outside of city to search for cheaper land these days and Stadion Zurich gets to have very good access to the stadium.

Anyway I wish the problem will be solved with the least damage to timeline for construction.

^^ Its not exaclty in the downtown area but its in city proper.
Here is a link to the location:
http://maps.google.de/?ie=UTF8&t=k&ll=47.393541,8.505821&spn=0.007888,0.015836&z=16

I really hope this stadium will be built as soon as possible. It will be, at least architecturally, by far the best football stadium in Switzerland.

sorry again but i don't like the design at all :(

you should take a look at Basel's Stadium instead of critizise everything in Switzerland!

Thanks for your detailed explanations. BTW maybe they have to lower the groundwater level in order to build the stadium????? I have little knowledge of construction but that doesn't make sense to me.


I am also not really an expert, but I guess it's concerning the underground construction of the stadium. They run deep down to a certain level where groundwater is located (20-30 m?). And a river is close by as well. So groundwater would need to be moved to a lower level as it cannot pass through the stadium walls, of course. And this would need a special permission by the city authorities.


BTW judging from "They want in the middle of the city", maybe the stadium will be located downtown of Zurich? If so, it's a little surprise because newly built stadiums tend to be located outside of city to search for cheaper land these days and Stadion Zurich gets to have very good access to the stadium.


It's on the same spot where already today the Hardturm football stadium (s. 1st page of the thread) is located. Not in the very centre, but quite near the centre. Already in the past, there was a tram line on the northern side of the stadium and in the future, there will be built another one on the southern side.

you should take a look at Basel's Stadium instead of critizise everything in Switzerland!

This man criticize everything in all over the world. :lol::lol::lol:

A few weeks ago an alternative project for Zurich came up with a combined football icehockey stadium. Cap for football is 22k, for icehockey 10k I believe.

http://www.duplexarena.ch/images/stories/duplex-strasse.jpg

http://www.duplexarena.ch/images/stories/duplex_schnitt.gif

http://www.duplexarena.ch/

I really hope they stay with the old one...

A few weeks ago an alternative project for Zurich came up with a combined football icehockey stadium. Cap for football is 22k, for icehockey 10k I believe.

I really hope they stay with the old one...

Maybe because of those who sued building the stadium? That's a real sadness. The capacity went down by as many as 8K(almost 30% of original capacity!). Whenever I hear a sad news like this I feel like drinking a beer :cheers2:

Maybe because of those who sued building the stadium? That's a real sadness. The capacity went down by as many as 8K(almost 30% of original capacity!). Whenever I hear a sad news like this I feel like drinking a beer :cheers2:

The renderings above are not an official project and the investors didn't ask for it. It's just a crappy "idea" of two architects. They for sure (want to) jeopardize the official project with this. It's discussed quite a lot in the biggest local newspaper - always eager for speculations...

On Friday, the AFG-Arena in St.Gallen experienced its first game Switzerland vs. Liechtenstein. For Switzerland, it was a preparation game for EURO 2008 against the small neighbouring country which is located not far from St.Gallen. The game was sold out with 18'000 seating places and saw Swiss striker Alex Frei break the all-time national goal record of Kubilay Türkyilmaz with 2 goals - now he has scored 35 times for Switzerland. A good opening for the stadium, indeed.

http://www.stadion-sg.ch/portaldata/1/Moduledata/173/sv_92_1_1.jpg

The AFG-Arena is also host to the trainings of the Romanian national team before and during EURO 2008. They arrived yesterday and started their first training, but had to stop it after 20 minutes because of a heavy thunderstorm with hail.

The local team FC St.Gallen was relegated in the play-offs against Bellinzona . The first season in the new stadium will be a 2nd-Division one. The other new team in Super League, additionally to Bellinzona, will be FC Vaduz from Liechtenstein.

- Perspectives: it will be the new home and custom-built stadium for two teams: Grasshoppers and FC Zurich, the building permission on a state level has been achieved, some neighbours are still pondering though to move the case to Federal Court, and then, depending on the duration, the private real estate investor has to decide if he is still interested in the project - generally, the stadium which includes also offices and a shopping mall is expected to open its gates in 2011

------------------------------------------------------------------------
First of all thanks for the awesome posting, railcity.

BTW, almost 8.5months have passed since you said some neighboring residents of Stadion Zürich is thinking of moving the case to Federal Court. Hasn't there been any news about that? I wish they give up the lawsuit.

But judging from "move the case to Federal Court", did they already file a suit against bulding the stadium in lower court(and lose the case?) or are they considering going directly to Federal Court?

If buliding a fantastic stadium like this is delayed or in worst case cancelled by the lawsuit, it will be real saddness.

http://www.fascination-stadium.com/images/em2008/zurich2.jpg

http://www.fascination-stadium.com/images/em2008/zurich.jpg


the construction of the stadium is almost certain !


after approximately 5 years of endless discussions



http://www.tagi.ch/dyn/news/zuerich/915832.html

I've seen every stadium in switzerland! there are my 3 favourites

1. Basel -> Biggest
2. YB (Bern) -> loudest
3. AFG Arena SG -> nearest to the pitch

the construction of the stadium is almost certain !


after approximately 5 years of endless discussions



http://www.tagi.ch/dyn/news/zuerich/915832.html

So what's the estimated groundbreaking date?

i think march 2009, construction period is 3 years.

users of the stadium, the two soccer clubs fcz.ch and http://www.gcz.ch

with hotel, shoppingcenter, restaurants

882 vip-seats in sky boxes
1322 business-seats
28379 regular seats

definitive building permits are available at 18. august 2008, then investors can
make their promise

fc concordia, the smaller club in basel would also like to build a new stadium with 10'000 seats, apartements and large supermarket

cost about 180 mio euro, a bit exaggerated this project

concordia has an average of 1000 viewers per game


http://www.rankhof-neu.ch/files/rankhof_neu_fakten.pdf

Interesting design certainly very ambitious but I have to say I really don't like stadiums that have flats, hotels, supermarkets etc. attached to the exterior. If clubs want additional finance then why don't they built apartments and hotels in a different location either close to the stadium or in the city centre I’m sure they would still make as much money.
Also isn’t Concordia one of FC Basel’s feeder clubs so are they going to be paying towards it?

Interesting design certainly very ambitious but I have to say I really don't like stadiums that have flats, hotels, supermarkets etc. attached to the exterior. If clubs want additional finance then why don't they built apartments and hotels in a different location either close to the stadium or in the city centre I’m sure they would still make as much money.


It's not about "additional finance", it's about the only opportunity to keep playing professional football.

The clubs don't have any spare money and their budgets are low in an international comparison, especially compared with the "big leagues". Concordia for example has a budget/turnover of about 1.5 Mio Euros (half of it is spent for the first team).

And for sure these clubs don't own or would be able to buy property close to the stadium, not speaking of the city center. They normally don't even own their old stadium itself. But they need to fulfill now certain minimum infrastructure and security criteria, otherwise they will be relegated out of the 2 professional leagues.

So:
- to build a stadium on their own money = impossible
- to build a stadium with bank's money: basically impossible, because to build a stand-alone modern football stadium is not self-sustaining in Switzerland (unsure attendance figures, virtually non-existant TV money, high building & real estate costs) -> no bank would invest in this
- state support: no! the state in Switzerland does not support professional sport financially, and even though I am a big football fan, I say: rightly so!

The only solution is to find investors who are so much convinced of the success of their investment (shopping center, hotel, retirement home, offices, whatever...) that they are ready to build a modern football stadium on the top of it free of charge. Furthermore, the owner of the property, which is often the state/citizenship, has to be convinced by the club to make a contract for a long-term lease of the property to these investors, and sometimes there is also a public vote of the local citizens necessary, if the property has to be reclassified.


Also isn’t Concordia one of FC Basel’s feeder clubs so are they going to be paying towards it?

The two clubs are independent, although they cooperate in the youth formation area and their offices are located close to eachother. FC Basel is for sure not going to pay anything to it. Former talented Concordia players have moved to FC Basel, but also to FC Zürich or Grasshoppers. These clubs also give players to Concordia on loan if they are not completely ready yet for Super League football. Or eg. two years ago, Grasshoppers have given their newly bought top Argentinian striker Raul Bobadilla to Concordia on loan in order for him to acclimatise to Swiss football.

A stadium with a capacity of 10.000 for an avarge of 1000? :ohno:

A stadium with a capacity of 10.000 for an avarge of 1000? :ohno:

I guess, all other influences not taken into account, with such a stadium their average attendance would at least double to 2'000. ;) Then, Basel is crazy for football but loving so far only FC Basel. I guess, Concordia is ambitious and wants to increase their popularity among football fans. If they realise this project, it's probably better to build a 10'000-stadium right away. With such a stadium they could also play in the top league. Also, the 10'000-stadium would be very suitable for games of women and youth national teams, the 2nd team of FC Basel which is dominating the 3rd League and also for certain games of the 1st team of FC Basel (Friendlies, UEFA-Cup qualification and the like). In this way, St.Jakob-Park could be even more frequently used for other events like Opera shows etc.

Is there any news and renders for the restructuring of the Cornaredo stadium in Lugano? I heard that works may start in December but no renders have been released.

A stadium with a capacity of 10.000 for an avarge of 1000? :ohno:

The aim of Concordia Basel is to play in the Super League, the highest football league in Switzerland. The supporter value could be higher there than current in the 2nd highest league. Even though I have to say, ambitious aims, that Congeli want to achieve.

The people of Lucerne voted yes to the new football stadium last weekend.
Capacity is 17'000 with 800 Business seats and about 14 boxes.
It should be ready as soon as summer 2010.

http://www.sportarena-allmend.ch/uploads/pics/sportarena-allmend-tag.jpg

http://www.sportarena-allmend.ch/uploads/pics/sportarena-allmend-stadion.jpg

http://www.sportarena-allmend.ch/uploads/pics/sportarena-allmend-hallenbad.jpg

More pics: http://www.sportarena-allmend.ch/bilder-sportarena.html

Nearly 1 1/2 years after starting this thread, I've been doing a comprehensive update of the five entry posts which feature now:

- complete overview of 2nd Division (16 teams) additionally to the 1st Division (10 teams)
- new pictures and renderings added
- updated information on the current state of new stadium plans
- updated club infos
- updated general information

Enjoy reading! :)

Excellent work.
Some comments:

You write 2011 for possible opening on the new stadium in Lucerne, according to the homepage (http://www.sportarena-allmend.ch/projekt.html) it could be as early as Summer 2010.

I'm quite surprised Rankhof will not be allowed for the Challenge League anymore. Just judging from pics it looks like one of the better/more modern stadiums in this division.

Is the project for Lausanne still alive?
I think I saw this renders the first time quite some time ago but haven't heard anything about it recently.

What's with all the plastic pitches in Switzerland???

Nearly 1 1/2 years after starting this thread, I've been doing a comprehensive update of the five entry posts which feature now:

- complete overview of 2nd Division (16 teams) additionally to the 1st Division (10 teams)
- new pictures and renderings added
- updated information on the current state of new stadium plans
- updated club infos
- updated general information

Enjoy reading! :)

You did a awesome job, railcity! That's really sensational

Thanks, Carrera & Ipioe! :)

Concerning Lucerne - they decided to play this spring round still in Allmend and also there could be some objections, and the building time is at least 18 months. So earliest possible opening is winter 2011.

Rankhof has been rebuilt only 10 years ago. It's for sure a very nice amateur leagues stadium, but it's not Challenge League compatible. It doesn't fulfill certain minimum criteria - eg. the away sector should have an own entrance, own food supplies and own toilets. The space around the stadium is too small, so it's difficult to make up these decifits with a renovation. The facing stand is actually overlapping the sidewalk of the street behind it. The street is encircling the stadium on three sides.

Concerning Lausanne: sure, the project in general is still alive. I just want to emphasize once more that the image of the new stadium is not a rendering - it's just a vision. There has been no project competition yet for the new stadium.

In Lausanne, there have been gathered enough signatures for a public vote on the whole "Metamorphose" development project which includes not only the new stadia, but first of all also the building of a new housing area "eco-quartier" on the spot of the current stadium Pontaise. The main argument of the opponents in Lausanne seems to be not like in other cities issues like "too much traffic" and the like. The opposition is mostly from the northern part of the city and they are opposed to the fact that the stadium and sports facilities would move to the southern part of the city near the lake. They say the southern part has been getting too much preference recently and the northern part is about to turn into a "ghetto" with not enough public space. Also they say the south has already enough shopping centers - they want the one connected with the stadium in the north.

It's not easy to understand the Lausannois. They have elected a city mayor from the Green Party but are complaining they have not enough shopping centers in their district. ;)

@JYDA: what is your question exactly? Are you asking about the reason why they were built?

Currently Bern and Neuchâtel stadium pitches are plastic and Schaffhausen plans to build one. There are several advantages of these kind of pitches:

- more easy to take care of

- more independence from the weather - one can nearly always play on the plastic pitch. Eg. now in December, Young Boys from Bern had an away cup game scheduled in Gossau which had to be cancelled because of the snow and the probability was high that the game would have to be cancelled on the reserve date as well, so the teams made an agreement to move the game to Bern - so Young Boys had a home game thanks to plastic pitch (and won it)

- I have seen many games on artificial pitch and I have to say that they are in average more attractive - the ball can be played faster and more precise and the way the ball bumps on the ground is not random but can be calculated by the attacking team. Young Boys has some fast wing attackers who manage again and again to overrun opposing defence with the ball on their feet. On a natural pitch this is much more difficult as the ball is stopped by the grass. So then attackers kick the ball in the air and run after it, but this is mostly less precise. Also Young Boys practises at times beautiful "one-touch" football which is in this way only possible on artificial or a very good natural pitch.

- one of the main reasons for using artificial pitch in the first place is a commercial one: the stadium can much easier and faster be rebuilt for other events like rock concerts (in the Bern stadium eg. soon Coldplay is coming up) and then back again for football

- on the negative side is tradition and connection to nature which is missing and also artificial pitch is potentially more health-damaging for the players (stop & go movements on an artificial pitch put joints on more strain than on a natural pitch - but of course, it's still more healthy than indoor floors eg. for basketball players)

Is there an awesome stadium completed in 2008 in your country?

Nominate it for SSC Stadium of the year 2008 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=771596)

The people of Lucerne voted yes to the new football stadium last weekend.
Capacity is 17'000 with 800 Business seats and about 14 boxes.
It should be ready as soon as summer 2010.

http://www.sportarena-allmend.ch/uploads/pics/sportarena-allmend-tag.jpg

http://www.sportarena-allmend.ch/uploads/pics/sportarena-allmend-stadion.jpg

http://www.sportarena-allmend.ch/uploads/pics/sportarena-allmend-hallenbad.jpg

More pics: http://www.sportarena-allmend.ch/bilder-sportarena.html

I like!

@JYDA: what is your question exactly? Are you asking about the reason why they were built?

Currently Bern and Neuchâtel stadium pitches are plastic and Schaffhausen plans to build one. There are several advantages of these kind of pitches:

- more easy to take care of

- more independence from the weather - one can nearly always play on the plastic pitch. Eg. now in December, Young Boys from Bern had an away cup game scheduled in Gossau which had to be cancelled because of the snow and the probability was high that the game would have to be cancelled on the reserve date as well, so the teams made an agreement to move the game to Bern - so Young Boys had a home game thanks to plastic pitch (and won it)

- I have seen many games on artificial pitch and I have to say that they are in average more attractive - the ball can be played faster and more precise and the way the ball bumps on the ground is not random but can be calculated by the attacking team. Young Boys has some fast wing attackers who manage again and again to overrun opposing defence with the ball on their feet. On a natural pitch this is much more difficult as the ball is stopped by the grass. So then attackers kick the ball in the air and run after it, but this is mostly less precise. Also Young Boys practises at times beautiful "one-touch" football which is in this way only possible on artificial or a very good natural pitch.

- one of the main reasons for using artificial pitch in the first place is a commercial one: the stadium can much easier and faster be rebuilt for other events like rock concerts (in the Bern stadium eg. soon Coldplay is coming up) and then back again for football

- on the negative side is tradition and connection to nature which is missing and also artificial pitch is potentially more health-damaging for the players (stop & go movements on an artificial pitch put joints on more strain than on a natural pitch - but of course, it's still more healthy than indoor floors eg. for basketball players)


I was a bit surprised that several swiss stadiums have artificial pitches but I didn't realize the Swiss league plays in December and February. I would've assumed you'd have a much longer winter break like in Denmark so I can understand why the grass pitches would get into horrendous shape. My team here in Toronto plays on an artificial pitch and everyone from the players to management absolutely hates it. However, we play a summer season from the end of march to early november so the weather isn't as much of an excuse for having it.

My team here in Toronto plays on an artificial pitch and everyone from the players to management absolutely hates it. However, we play a summer season from the end of march to early november so the weather isn't as much of an excuse for having it.

If also management hates it, I don't understand why you have it? Who is in favour?

News Updates:
- the new Luzern stadium has sold its naming right and will be called "swisspor arena"
- the building permit for the new stadium in Schaffhausen could not be issued yet - there is an objection of a nearby shopping mall pending who fears the stadium has not enough parking space planned - delay in relation to the most optimistic schedule scenario is currently 1 month

If also management hates it, I don't understand why you have it? Who is in favour?

Team doesn't own the stadium. It was built by the government for the 2007 U20 world cup and owned by the city. The city wants to rent out the field as much as possible which necessitates having an artificial surface for durability. The team is currently trying to get an artficial pitch built nearby so the city can rent that out instead which would allow grass to be installed in the stadium.

Swisspor Arena in Luzern is u/c on the site of the former Allmend stadium. It will be finished in one year.

http://www.swissporarena.ch/mm/L8187263.jpg

I updated today again the entry posts to this thread.

- new teams: Kriens & Le Mont
- update on stadium perspectives in many cities
- new renderings: Wil, Schaffhausen, Bellinzona, Aarau
- update average league attendances, former players etc.
- new stadium pics: Gossau, Luzern, St.Gallen, Bern
- put all the teams again in the right order according to the final ranking of 08/09
- links to current championship & cup winners videos

Thanks for the update! Very impressive stadiums for such a small country.

Some pics of St. Jakob Park in Basel.

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/6605/dscn1090.jpg

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7196/dscn1093b.jpg

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9168/wqdrewrr.jpg

Thanks for the pics, crouchy! That must have been the game FCB - BSCYB of last May, I guess.

Just before christmas, it has been announced btw, that the new Swisspor Arena in Luzern will feature artificial pitch! Luzern will therefore be the third Super League stadia after Bern and Neuchâtel with an artificial pitch.

As rationales were mentioned planability, versatility, lower operational costs, and even, surprisingly, less muscle injuries expected thanks to a new generation artificial pitch. Also, the artificial pitch has the advantage securing the opening of the stadium as this is scheduled for next winter.

impressive pictures that was one of the venues for 2008 euro? right? happy new year to all ...

Thanks for the pics, crouchy! That must have been the game FCB - BSCYB of last May, I guess.

Thanks. Yes, it was :)

impressive pictures that was one of the venues for 2008 euro? right? happy new year to all ...

Yes, start game and one half final of the Euro competition 2008 were in Basel.

wow que diferencia hay entre los estadios antiguos y los equipos antiguos, que los que hay en la actualidad... muy bueno post!!

guys a question do u know how much the total building cost of the Thun Süd was?

guys a question do u know how much the total building cost of the Thun Süd was?

Don't know. The whole complex including shopping & fitness center, gas station, athletic stadium etc. amounts to CHF 170 million.

The private investor (Migros retail chain) is paying the whole thing and will give the stadium part for free to a cooperative (not-for-profit) society. In return, the citizens municipality has provided the land.

well i'm just asking for the stadium, not the WHOLE complex...

NEWS on Swiss Foootball League stadia

Geneva - soon hosting both Swiss and French 2nd Division?

Most probably next season, there will be an exceptional situation in European football. Professional teams from two different countries playing their home games in the same stadium.

Stade de Genève in Lancy at the periphery of Geneva has opened in 2003 and was one of the eight venues of Euro 2008. It is home of the Swiss 2nd Division team and 17x champion Servette.

This weekend, the team Evian/Thonon/Gaillard from the French territory on Lake Geneva has reached the promotion to the 2nd Division of French football.

Their current home stadium is not eligible for the 2nd Division, so they would like to play in closeby Stade de Genève. The stadium management and the French league seem to be positive about it. Of course, calendars of the two leagues need to be coordinated, but this should not be a major issue. The club Evian/Thonon/Gaillard has evolved from mergers of several teams from small French towns around Geneva and is co-owned by Zinedine Zidane, Bixente Lizarazu and Alain Boghossian.

http://www.periodicamente.it/UserFiles/Image/Stade%20de%20Gen%C3%83%C2%A8ve.jpg


Thun - construction of the new stadium has started

While the team has the opportunity to reach promotion to the 1st Division already this season, the construction for the new stadium has meanwhile started on schedule. The opening is predicted for next summer.

http://www.thun.ch/typo3temp/pics/3a3905b6da.jpg


Luzern - Swisspor Arena under construction

The construction of the Swisspor Arena is already more advanced. Opening is scheduled for this winter, while the team is reaching for an Europa League spot this season.

http://www.swissporarena.ch/mm/DSC_0832.jpg


Bellinzona - new site for the stadium project chosen

Current 1st Division team (currently fighting against relegation) has chosen a new site for its stadium project in Castione in the north of Bellinzona. The previous considered sites were in the south and in the center, respectively.

http://www.cdt.ch/files/images/f_a5aac23430e9c3eba6b5c80b4c00f795.jpg


Schaffhausen - looking for partners

The new stadium in Schaffhausen has taken all the necessary legal and political steps. The stadium management is now working on finding commercial tenants and partners. If the search is successful, the construction can start.

http://www.fcspark.ch/Portals/4/Gallery/Album/1/slide0040_image044.jpg


Biel - successful vote for the 2nd time

Because of changes to the project, a 2nd public vote has been necessary. The population of Biel has been positive about the renewed version of the project, so the lights are on green for the new duplex-stadium (hockey/football). The project covers an area of 800 x 100 meters.

http://files.newsnetz.ch/story/1/2/4/12491045/2/topelement.jpg


Zürich - security measures in Letzigrund

During the annual security check, tiny cracks have been discovered in the steal construction. As an immediate measure, the roof has been temporarily supported by columns in order to guarantee the security for the visitors and continue with the game calendar. An accurate analysis until summer will suggest the next steps. The renewal of the Letzigrund stadium with the new roof had been planned since the 90-ies, but was then implemented short-term in 2006 as a replacement for the planned Hardturm stadium for Euro 2008. The speedy and complex construction within one year with football games still being played in the old Letzigrund at the same time is mentioned by some rumours as a reason for possible construction mistakes. Home teams FC Zurich and Grasshopper-Club (who are tenants in the stadium) have reduced the price on their tickets and refund their season ticket holders for the partially worse view. They are pondering a regress on the owner (the city) once all the costs and opportunity costs are known.

http://estb.msn.com/i/A4/7A783C4264B98A60BB428C138279.jpg

It's that time of the year again. ;)

I updated the entry posts to this thread. Here an overview on the current projects:

under construction
- Luzern
- Thun

with building permit, negotiating
- Schaffhausen
- Biel

pre-building permit, planning
- Wil
- Aarau
- Winterthur (major extension)

design competition
- Lausanne

study, site and concept not fixed yet
- Lugano
- Bellinzona
- Zürich (Hardturm)

new project abandonded, renovating current stadium
- Sion

Thanks for the updates :applause:

UPDATE:

Swissporarena, FC Luzern, Axpo Super League.

See pictures of the Swissporarena on this link:
http://www.swissporarena.ch/dynasite.cfm?dsmid=85092

By www.Swissporarena.ch

Beautifull. I generally really likes the swiss stadium projects, they have OK size, good design, all have a kind distinct design and you feel that its not just a cheaply build identikit ground. :)

UPDATE, 22-03-11:

Swissporarena, FC Luzern, Axpo Super League.

See pictures of the Swissporarena on this link:
http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?head=Bilder-aus-Luzern-Fertigstellung-naht&folder=sites&site=news_detail&news_id=6105

By Stadionwelt.de


The stadium has made German style and i like it. But i don't like the floodlights that you see on the first picture.

UPDATE, 22-03-11:

Swissporarena, FC Luzern, Axpo Super League.

See pictures of the Swissporarena on this link:
http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?head=Bilder-aus-Luzern-Fertigstellung-naht&folder=sites&site=news_detail&news_id=6105

By Stadionwelt.de


The stadium has made German style and i like it. But i don't like the floodlights that you see on the first picture.

Carlo I see your point that Swisspor Arena in German style, but only internally.
Externally I find it closer to new french stadium style. Although when looking at the pics from Luzern, looking at Xamax ground and thinking of Biel, Bellinzona and Lausanne projects I see a tendency in Switzerland to play with the elements in nature more than France. The exterior parts reminds me of a certain award winning swiss indoor swimming pool i once saw.

UPDATE, 11-05-11:

Stadion Thun-Süd, FC Thun, Axpo Super League.

See pictures of Stadion Thun-Süd on this link:
http://www.gnfs.ch/index.php?section=gallery&cid=9

By Gnfs.ch

It's a really nice stadium for FC Thun with a capacity of 10.410. FC Thun has an average of 4.809 people, watching by home games.

Can the name of this thread not changed in: Switzerland - Stadium and Arena Development News?

Can the name of this thread not changed in: Switzerland - Stadium and Arena Development News?

Hello Carlo

this is the thread for (Football) Stadiums of the Swiss Football League as you see in the overviews in the entry posts.

There is another thread for (Hockey) Arenas of the Swiss Hockey League which also has overview entry posts:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=789030&highlight=swiss

Thanks to the entry posts which I keep updated you have the best possible overview what is going on and news and discussions can be posted as you do it.

I always update the entry posts based on the last seasons ranking, promotion and relegations in Super League and Challenge League and latest development news. So the list is complete.

There are basically no other stadiums or arenas in Switzerland relevant than the ones mentioned in these two threads.

If for some reason you want to post a lot of photos of the old St.Jakobhalle, the only sport hall in Switzerland of a certain size not utilised for hockey, you can use the already existing thread "SWITZERLAND - Stadium and Arena Development News". ;)

New FC Thun stadium opened with a high wire act.

quEhK3JSXFY

The new project for the Hardturm stadium in Zurich was announced this week. It will have a capacity of about 20k with terraces and 16k all seated.
http://www.20min.ch/diashow/58952/58952-67smGS_57M_zfu7h3KE_ZQ.jpg

Here are the other project who entered the competiton, in order of how many votes they got from the users of the site:
http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/zuerich/story/-Gerade-deshalb-ein-Wahrzeichen-fuer-Zuerich--12027986#
As you see, the winner project is only 7th out of 12. And I agree, I think it's a very boring design. I would have prefered "Diamond" or "Beletage".