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Letzigrund

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Stadion Letzigrund
Letzi
Interior panorama
Map
LocationZürich, Switzerland
OwnerCity of Zurich
OperatorCity of Zurich
Capacity26,104 (football, domestic league),
24,061 (football, international matches),
30,930 (UEFA Euro 2008),
25,773 (athletics),
50,044 (concerts)[2]
Field size105 x 68 m
Construction
Broke ground15 November 2005
Built2006–2007
Opened30 August 2007
Construction costCHF 120 million (2007)
ArchitectBétrix & Consolascio, Frei & Ehrensperger[1]
General contractorImplenia
Tenants
FC Zürich
Grasshopper Club Zürich
FC Zürich Frauen
LC Zürich

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 [de]. The stadium was constructed by members of FC Zürich in 1925. Grasshopper Club has been using it as their home stadium since 2007. LC Zürich was spun off of FC Zürich in 1934. 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 being to run the 100 metres in 10.0 seconds.[3]

Old stadium (1925–2006)

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Letzigrund
(old stadium)
Letzi
Last athletics event (August 2006)
Map
LocationZürich, Switzerland
Coordinates47°22′58″N 8°30′16″E / 47.38278°N 8.50444°E / 47.38278; 8.50444 (Letzigrund (former stadium))
OwnerFC Zürich (1925–1937),
City of Zurich (1937–2006)
Capacity25,000 (football);
48,000 (concerts, 2006)
Construction
Opened22 November 1925
Expanded1947, 1958, 1973, 1984
Closed20 August 2006
Demolished2006
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)

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In 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 sector. 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

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UEFA Euro 2008

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The stadium was one of the venues for the UEFA Euro 2008. Three games were played at the stadium during the tournament.

UEFA Euro 2008 matches played at Letzigrund
Date Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Spectators
9 June 2008 Romania Romania 0–0 France France Group C 30,585
13 June 2008 Romania Romania 1–1 Italy Italy Group C 30,585
17 June 2008 France France 0–2 Italy Italy Group C 30,585

International matches

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International matches played at Letzigrund
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 Switzerland  2–1  Wales 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification

UEFA Women's Euro 2025

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The 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 --:-- D1 – D2 Group D
9 July 2025 --:-- D2 – D4
12 July 2025 --:-- C4 – C1 Group C
17 July 2025 --:-- Winner Group C – Runner-up Group D Quarter-finals
23 July 2025 --:-- Winner QF4 – Winner QF2 Semi-finals
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  • The Old Stadium viewed from the Uetliberg
    The Old Stadium viewed from the Uetliberg
  • Demolition of the old stadium
    Demolition of the old stadium
  • Building of the new stadium
    Building of the new stadium
  • Opening ceremony (30 August 2007)
    Opening ceremony (30 August 2007)
  • Interior view of the new Letzigrund
    Interior view of the new Letzigrund
  • The new stadium
    The new stadium

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bauten - Frei & Ehrensperger". Archived from the original on 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
  2. ^ Stadium Letzigrund official website
  3. ^ "10 Seconds Flat Race". Speed Endurance. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  4. ^ "Reconstruction". City of Zurich administration, stadium management. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Matthew, Allen (August 31, 2007). "Letzigrund opening". Swissinfo. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  6. ^ Kern, Max; Wegmann, Michael (2 October 2011). "Die Schande von Zürich". Blick. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
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