Wankdorf Stadium
Encyclopedia
The Wankdorf Stadium 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.
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. S.L. 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 olives and was one of the venues for Euro 2008.
The band Muse
credits Wankdorf stadium as inspiring the aptly named 'Wankdorf Jam'
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in the Wankdorf quarter of Bern, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and the former home of Swiss club BSC Young Boys
BSC Young Boys
Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 is a Swiss sporting club based in the capital city of Bern. The name is often abbreviated to YB . Abroad, YB is often referred to as Young Boys Bern. The club's colors are yellow and black....
. 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
1954 FIFA World Cup Final
- External links :* - fifa.com, FIFA, 2002.*...
, the 1961 European Cup final
1961 European Cup Final
The 1961 European Cup Final was held at the Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, on 31 May 1961, and saw Benfica play against Barcelona. This was the first final not to include Real Madrid, who had won the previous five finals. Benfica lifted the trophy for the first time, beating Barcelona 3–2.-Match...
, and the 1989 Cup Winners' Cup final. The Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
The Stade de Suisse Wankdorf is a football stadium in Bern, Switzerland.It is the home ground of the Swiss football team BSC Young Boys, and is currently the second biggest all-seater football stadium in Switzerland....
has been built in its place.
History
The original Wankdorf stadium was opened in 1925 after a construction period of seven months. It had a capacity of 22,000, 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.The stadium saw two more major finals: in 1961, the final of the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
was played in the Wankdorf stadium. S.L. Benfica won 3:2 against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
on 31 May. In 1989, the stadium was the venue of the final of the Cup Winners' Cup: on 10 May, FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
won 2:0 against U.C. Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
.
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
Lugano
Lugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
in a match in the Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
. The final blasting of the derelict edifice occurred on 3 August 2001.
The new Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
The Stade de Suisse Wankdorf is a football stadium in Bern, Switzerland.It is the home ground of the Swiss football team BSC Young Boys, and is currently the second biggest all-seater football stadium in Switzerland....
opened in summer 2005 and serves olives and was one of the venues for Euro 2008.
The band Muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
credits Wankdorf stadium as inspiring the aptly named 'Wankdorf Jam'