lunes, 18 de febrero de 2008

Where the Decisive Goals are Scored: Ernst Happel Stadium

On June 29, 2008, the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna will be the center of international soccer. During the final game of the UEFA EURO 2008, the new European soccer champion will be decided.

For EURO 2008, the seating capacity will be increased to 51,000. The field has been equipped with new lawn heating, and two ultra-modern video walls have been installed. A media center of 1,600 square meters for TV teams and other media has been installed under the stands and there are four new panorama interview boxes for television.

For events, the new air-conditioned VIP club for 900 persons is available. With an electronic access control system, video surveillance, and two security rings, the safety arrangements of the Ernst Happel Stadium have been optimized. Nearly 37 million Euro in all has been invested by the City of Vienna and the Austrian federal government in the improvement of the stadium.

Matches at the Ernst Happel Stadium:

Sun June 8, 6 p.m. Austria - Croatia
Thu Jue12, 20.45 p.m. Austria - Poland
Mon June 16, 20.45 p.m. Austria - Germany

Quarter-Final
Fri June 20, Sun June 22
Semi-Final
Thu June 26
Final
Sun June 29


Good news for owners of tickets to Euro Cup matches: the tickets for the matches double as tickets for free transport of the long-distance trains of the Austrian Federal Railroads and the entire local public transportation within the host cities - the entire day of the match through 12 noon the following day.

Did you know that the Ernst Happel Stadium was the venue of many exciting and crucial football matches? In 1995, Ajax Amsterdam won the UEFA Champions League at Ernst Happel Stadium, and Inter Milan (1964), FC Porto (1987), and AC Milan (1990) won the European Cup, the predecessor to the UEFA Champions League. ... that in 1995, the water polo competition of the European Swimming Championships was held at the Ernst Happel Stadium – in a specially installed pool?