The story of Naturarena Hohe Warte: Stadium of Superlatives

The stadium inauguration

On June 19^th, 1921, the Hohe Warte opens its doors for the championship match between I.V.F.C and SC Hakoah, which ends 2:1 (2:0), in front of 12 000 visitors. The total surface area of the facility, built on an old brickyard after the plans of Eduard Schönecker, reaches 90,000 m². 18,000 of these constitute the playing field, as well as a wooden grandstand. The vast and wide slope facing the stand, on which the majority of fans take their place, is especially impressive. On opening day, the total capacity amounts to 50,000 people, but it is later expanded to reach 85,000 people, making it the largest playing facility outside of the British islands. Austrian media was equally impressed by these dimensions:

“From the clay pits in Döbling rose a playing field which, considering the structures, capacity and facilities at hand, certainly counts to the grandest and most imposing on the continent.” (Sport-Tagblatt June 20^th, 1921, page 1)

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