Wankdorf Stadium

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Wankdorfstadion
nickname = Wankdorf Stadium


location = Papiermühlestrasse 71
CH-3014 Bern
broke_ground = 1925
opened = 18 October 1925
closed = 7 July 2001
demolished = 3 August 2001
owner =
operator =
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect =
former_names =
tenants = BSC Young Boys (Super League) (1925-2001)
seating_capacity = 22,000-64,000 (Football)

The Wankdorf Stadium ( _de. Wankdorfstadion) was a football stadium in the Wankdorf quarter of Bern, Switzerland, and the former home of Swiss club BSC Young Boys. It was built in 1925, and as well as serving as a club stadium, it hosted several important matches, including the 1954 FIFA World Cup final, the 1961 European Cup final, and the 1989 Cup Winners' Cup final. The Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf has been built in its place.

History

The original Wankdorf stadium was opened in 1925 after a construction period of seven months. It offered 22,000 places, of which 1,200 covered seats and covered standing room for another 5,000 people. The first international match took place on 8 November 1925; 18,000 spectators witnessed the 2:0 victory of the Swiss national team against Austria.

From 1933 to 1939, the stadium was gradually enlarged with an additional training field and finally the construction of bleachers across from the grandstand, increasing the capacity to 42,000. For the Football World Cup of 1954, the stadium was demolished and a new one with a capacity of 64,000 spectators (on 8,000 seats and standing room for 56,000) was inaugurated shortly before the tournament began. On 4 July 1954, the legendary "Miracle of Bern", the unexpected 3:2 victory of the German team over the Hungarians in the final, made the stadium an icon of football history.

The stadium saw two more major finals: in 1961, the final of the European Cup was played in the Wankdorf stadium. SL Benfica won 3:2 against FC Barcelona on 31 May. In 1989, the stadium was the venue of the final of the Cup Winners' Cup: on 10 May, FC Barcelona won 2:0 against U.C. Sampdoria.

The stadium was demolished in 2001, and a new stadium was constructed in its place. The last match in the stadium was played on 7 July 2001; Young Boys played 1:1 against the team of Lugano in a match in the Swiss Super League. The final blasting of the derelict edifice occurred on 3 August 2001.

The new Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf opened in summer 2005 and serves as the new home for Young Boys and will be one of the venues for Euro 2008.

References

* [http://www.nachrichten.ch/detail/217982.htm History of the Wankdorf/Stade de Suisse] , in German.

External links

* [http://www.vfsw.ch/index.php?id=16 Image gallery] with many historical images from 1898 to 2002.