Rheinpark Stadium Vaduz
| Rheinpark Stadium Vaduz | |
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| The main stand of the stadium | |
| Data | |
| place |
 Vaduz , Liechtenstein
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| Coordinates | 757 132 / 223 107 |
| owner | Vaduz municipality |
| opening | July 31, 1998 |
| First game | FC Vaduz - 1. FC Kaiserslautern 0: 8 |
| Renovations | 2006 |
| surface | Natural grass |
| costs | approx. 19 million CHF |
| architect | Edgar Hasler |
| capacity | 7,838 seats |
| Capacity (internat.) | 6,127 seats |
| playing area | 105 m × 68 m |
| Societies) | |
| Events | |
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The Rheinpark Stadium in Vaduz is the only football stadium in the Principality of Liechtenstein that is approved for international matches . It is the venue for the home games of FC Vaduz ( Super League ) and the national stadium of the Liechtenstein national football team .
history
The stadium was co-financed by the principality and belongs to the municipality of Vaduz. It is located directly on the right bank of the Rhine and thus on the border with Switzerland . Access is via an exit from the Swiss A13 motorway . At the opening, the stadium offered space for 4,500 spectators, of which 3,500 were covered seats. After only one year of construction, it was opened on July 31, 1998. The then Liechtenstein cup winner FC Vaduz played the opening game against the then German champions 1. FC Kaiserslautern (0: 8). In 2006, the Rheinpark Stadium was expanded with two new, covered grandstands in the south and north, so that the stadium now offers space for 7,838 spectators (4,184 standing places; all covered). If the north and south stands are used as seating stands, the stadium holds 6,127 spectators.
After FC Vaduz was promoted to the Axpo Super League in the 2008/09 season , there were considerations to expand the stadium to over 8,000 seats in order to meet the new infrastructure licensing requirements of the Swiss Football League . However, an expansion of the Rheinparkstadion has been postponed indefinitely.
The construction of the stadium became necessary because the world football association FIFA and the European association UEFA threatened not to allow any more European cup and international matches in Liechtenstein if the country did not provide a modern venue in accordance with international standards. There is no separate championship in Liechtenstein, but a national cup competition is held. Its serial winner FC Vaduz is therefore represented in the Europa League almost every year . The national team has not been represented in any major competition such as the World or European Championship, but it has been represented in the qualifications for it.
Events
In addition to football, the stadium is also used for other sporting and non-sporting events.
On May 24, 1999, the opening of the 8th European Small State Games (Lie Games), the "Olympic Games of Small States", took place in the Rheinpark Stadium .
In July 2003, the finals of the U-19 European Football Championship took place in Liechtenstein, with the semi-finals and the final being played in the Rheinparkstadion.
On June 18, 2007, the German musician Herbert Grönemeyer performed in the Rheinpark Stadium on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of FC Vaduz .
In May 2010, the stadium was the venue for various games of the U-17 European Football Championship 2010 , including the final.
On May 30, 2011, the Rheinpark Stadium again served as the venue for the opening ceremony of the 14th European Games for Small States (Lie Games), which were held for the second time in Liechtenstein.
On July 21, 2012 the Eurobowl XXVI took place in the Rheinpark Stadium, between the Calanda Broncos and the Vienna Vikings . The Swiss won 27:14.
