Letzigrund (Swiss Standard German: [ˈlɛtsiɡrʊnd] ) is a stadium in Zürich, Switzerland, the home of the football clubs FC Zürich and Grasshopper Club Zürich, as well as the athletics club LC Zürich. The original stadium was constructed by members of FC Zürich in 1925. Grasshopper Club has been using it as their home stadium since 2007, shortly after construction of the new stadium was completed.
Letzi | |
 Letzigrund in 2024 | |
 | |
| Location | Zürich, Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Owner | City of Zurich |
| Operator | City of Zurich |
| Capacity | 26,104 (football, domestic league), 24,061 (football, international matches), 30,930 (UEFA Euro 2008), 25,773 (athletics), 50,044 (concerts)[2] |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 15 November 2005 |
| Built | 2006–2007 |
| Opened | 30 August 2007 |
| Construction cost | CHF 120 million (2007) |
| Architect | Bétrix & Consolascio, Frei & Ehrensperger[1] |
| General contractor | Implenia |
| Tenants | |
| FC Zürich Grasshopper Club Zürich FC Zürich Frauen LC Zürich | |
The annual track and field meet Weltklasse Zürich, part of the Diamond League, has taken place at the Letzigrund since 1928, as have frequent open-air concerts. On the Letzigrund track on 21 June 1960, Armin Hary was the first human to run the 100 metres in 10.0 seconds.[3]
Old stadium (1925–2006)
editLetzi | |
 | |
 | |
| Location | Zürich, Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 47°22′58″N 8°30′16″E / 47.38278°N 8.50444°E |
| Owner | FC Zürich (1925–1937), City of Zurich (1937–2006) |
| Capacity | 25,000 (football); 48,000 (concerts, 2006) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 22 November 1925 |
| Expanded | 1947, 1958, 1973, 1984 |
| Closed | 20 August 2006 |
| Demolished | 2006 |
| Tenants | |
| FC Zürich, LC Zürich | |
The old Letzigrund stadium was opened on 22 November 1925 and was owned by FC Zürich. In 1937, during the Great Depression, ownership was transferred to the city of Zurich, which has operated the Letzigrund ever since. It underwent extensive remodeling in 1947, 1958, 1973, and 1984. Lighting was added in 1973. The first open-air concert there was held in 1996.
The capacity of the stadium was 25,000 and the main pitch was 105 by 68 meters, with athletics facilities. There were also three other playing fields: two lawns, an artificial turf, and a small packed sand field. The old Letzigrund also contained a bar and a restaurant within the stadium.[citation needed]
New stadium (2007–present)
editIn the 1990s, the athletics club Zürich pushed for a modernisation of the facilities at Letzigrund, in order to even better accommodate the athletes of Weltklasse Zürich. In 1997, the city parliament decided favourably on an upgrade of the stadium, whereas the city administration was simultaneously working on a reconstruction plan.[4] At the same time, the owners of the Hardturm football stadium were also planning to reconstruct their stadium.
In 2003, the new Hardturm stadium was approved by the city population in a public vote, but subsequently, legal objections by neighbourhood and environmental groups put the timely realisation for the EURO 2008 tournament, for which it was chosen by UEFA in 2002 as one of eight venues, in jeopardy. As a result, the planning process for the new Letzigrund stadium was accelerated. In 2005, the city population approved the reconstruction of the public stadium and the costs of temporarily adjusting the stadium to the requirements of EURO 2008 in two separate referenda.
Originally planned for 2009, the new Letzigrund stadium was opened on August 30, 2007.[5] The first sports event there was the annual Weltklasse Zürich on September 7 with 26,500 spectators. The first football game was FC Zürich vs. Grasshopper Club Zürich on September 23. It hosted three games during the 2008 European championships, with a capacity of up to 30,000. The current capacity is 25,000 for football events, 26,000 for athletics and 50,000 for concerts.[5]
On 2 October 2011, the Swiss Football League game between FC Zürich and Grasshopper Club Zürich held at the stadium saw a major incident of football hooliganism. During the 74th minute of the match, with Grasshopper Club Zürich leading 2–1, a masked FC Zürich fan threw a lit flare into the Grasshopper Club Zürich fan section. This incited a violent reaction from the Grasshopper Club Zürich fans, several dozen of whom rushed towards the fence separating the two groups and attempted to fight back with flagpoles. The referee abandoned the match due to safety concerns. Six people were injured in the riot that ensued. The game had to be abandoned with approximately 15 minutes of regular time to go. Also dubbed the "Disgrace of Zürich" (German: Skandal/Schande von Zürich) by Swiss media,[6] this incident represented a second major episode of hooligan violence in Switzerland within five years, after a hooligan incident of similar significance occurred in Basel in 2006.
Matches
editUEFA Euro 2008
editThe stadium was one of the venues for the UEFA Euro 2008. Three games were played at the stadium during the tournament.
| Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 June 2008 |  Romania
|
0–0 |  France
|
Group C | 30,585 |
| 13 June 2008 | Romania
|
1–1 |  Italy
|
Group C | 30,585 |
| 17 June 2008 | France
|
0–2 | Italy
|
Group C | 30,585 |
International matches
edit| Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 October 2007 | Switzerland 
|
3–1 |  Austria
|
Men's friendly |
| 20 November 2007 | 0–1 |  Nigeria
| ||
| 6 February 2008 | Portugal 
|
3–1 | Italy
| |
| 10 September 2008 | Switzerland
|
1–2 |  Luxembourg
|
2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 1 June 2012 | Italy
|
0–3 |  Russia
|
Men's friendly |
| 31 March 2015 | Switzerland
|
1–1 |  United States
| |
| 29 March 2016 | 0–2 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina
| ||
| 23 March 2018 | Egypt 
|
1–2 | Portugal
| |
| 27 March 2018 | 0–1 |  Greece
| ||
| 29 May 2018 | Kosovo 
|
3–0 |  Albania
| |
| 22 October 2021 | Switzerland
|
2–0 | Romania
|
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
| 26 October 2021 | 5–0 |  Croatia
| ||
| 29 March 2022 | Switzerland
|
1–1 | Kosovo
|
Men's friendly |
| 30 June 2022 | Switzerland
|
0–4 |  England
|
Women's friendly |
| 11 October 2022 | 2–1 |  Wales
|
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | |
| 31 October 2023 | 1–7 |  Spain
|
2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League A | |
| 5 April 2024 | 3–1 |  Turkey
|
UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying League B | |
| 25 October 2024 | 1–1 |  Australia
|
Women's friendly | |
| 15 November 2024 | Switzerland
|
1–1 |  Serbia
|
2024–25 UEFA Nations League A |
| 29 November 2024 | Switzerland
|
 Germany
|
Women's friendly |
UEFA Women's Euro 2025
editThe stadium will be one of the venues for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025. Five games will be played at the stadium during the tournament.
| Date | Time (CEST) | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 July 2025 | --:-- | France |
– | England |
Group D | |
| 9 July 2025 | --:-- | England |
– |  Netherlands |
||
| 12 July 2025 | --:-- | Sweden  |
– | Germany |
Group C | |
| 17 July 2025 | --:-- | Winner Group C | – | Runner-up Group D | Quarter-finals | |
| 23 July 2025 | --:-- | Winner QF4 | – | Winner QF2 | Semi-finals |
Gallery
edit-
The Old Stadium viewed from the Uetliberg -
Demolition of the old stadium -
Building of the new stadium -
Opening ceremony (30 August 2007) -
Interior view of the new Letzigrund -
The new stadium
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bauten - Frei & Ehrensperger". Archived from the original on 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ^ Stadium Letzigrund official website
- ^ "10 Seconds Flat Race". Speed Endurance. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
- ^ "Reconstruction". City of Zurich administration, stadium management. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
- ^ a b Matthew, Allen (August 31, 2007). "Letzigrund opening". Swissinfo. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
- ^ Kern, Max; Wegmann, Michael (2 October 2011). "Die Schande von Zürich". Blick. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
External links
edit
- Official Website (in German)
- Stadion Letzigrund (in Russian)
- Weltklasse Zürich stadium information at the Wayback Machine (archived 2010-01-29)