Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion


location = Dresden, Germany
opened = June 16, 1923
closed = Open
owner = City of Dresden| operator = Eigenbetrieb Sportstätten- und Bäderbetrieb Dresden
surface = Grass
former_names = Illgenkampfbahn, Dynamo-Stadium
tenants = Dynamo Dresden
seating_capacity = 23,940 (expanding to 32,400 by 2009)

Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion is a football (soccer) stadium in Dresden, Saxony, the home of Dynamo Dresden.

History

The stadium was completed on June 16, 1923 at a cost of 500,000 German reichsmark allocated for the expansion of the existing "Illgenkampfbahn" centrally located in the inner city. The football club Dresdensia was the first organization to use the new facility.

In 1953, the Sportvereinigung Dynamo took over the stadium and on September 23, 1953, the stadium was re-named for athlete Rudolf Harbig. In the summer of 1971, it was renamed Dynamo-Stadion for the football club Dynamo Dresden which used the stadium as its home ground. The capacity of the stadium was twice expanded: to 36,000 in 1976 and then to 38,500 in 1980. The current capacity is approximately 23,940 seats (220 roofed and 10,670 open). Due to building work in progress at the moment, current capacity is limited to just under 10,000. The usual capacity is often lowered where there are security concerns.

In 1990, the stadium was upgraded to meet DFB (Deutscher Fussball Bund or German Football Association) and FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association or International Federation of Association Football) standards and the national building code. This included improved security measures to help protect players and referees. Benches have been replaced by individual seats and the pitch was re-sodded, the first time since 1956 that the playing surface has been renewed with the €375,000 cost being borne by the city of Dresden. That same year, the facility was again named for Rudolf Harbig. Currently it is used primarily for football matches and still serves as the home of Dynamo Dresden.

The first and only concert staged at the venue was a Wolfgang Petry show on July 17, 1999 with about 5,000 people in attendance.

Since January 1, 1992, the stadium has been under the control of the City of Dresden in order to protect the site should Dynamo Dresden ever face financial problems. On May 9, 2007, German sports magazine kicker reported that an agreement has been reached with the City to finance the complete renovation of the stadium into a modern 32,400-seat arena by 2009.

Floodlights and scoreboard

The new floodlights, nicknamed "Giraffes", were first used during a match involving the GDR's national football team. They were built by PGH Electro-Construction Dresden. The four floodlight pylons have a height of 60 meters, an incline of 20 degrees, and a weight of 60 tons. Each mast has six stages, which are equipped with 26 x 6.7 lux floodlights. On Dec. 3rd, 2007, the demolition began. Dresden hasn't got 2-billion € for moving these 4 into the new right for the new Dynamo-Stadium.The electric scoreboard was first used on July 6, 1979 during a match between Dynamo Dresden and 1. FC Magdeburg. It is made up of over 4,333 lamps, and is driven by a computer. The custom software was developed in 1994.

Clubs that used the stadium

*SS - Sport of Dresden [German Photothek/ Deutsche Fotothek (Saxon State Library)]
*SSV Dresden (football)
*Police Sport Club Elbe (football)
*Technische Universität Dresden Sport Club
*Business sport general place health insurance company Saxony r.a. (soccer)
*Dynamo supporters r.a. (soccer)

Admission prices for Dynamo Dresden games (2007)

International Matches

ee also

*Dynamo Dresden
*Ostragehege

External links

* [http://www.hbmbau.de/portal/alias__HBM/lang__en-GB/tabid__0/default.aspx The stadium's building contractor]
* [http://www.erlebnis-stadion.de/seiten/stadien-sachsen.php?ground_id=1&stadion=Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion Photos and information of the stadium]
* [http://www.giraffen-erhalten.de/ Information about the floodlights] (In German)
* [http://www.afsvd.de/gfl/teams/weg_monarchs.pdf Map of the stadium]
* [http://www.erlebnis-stadion.de/seiten/ground_spiele.php?ground_id=1 Stadium schedule]
* [http://www.kicker.de/fussball/regionalliga/startseite/artikel/365144/ Agreement on stadium renovation] (in German)http://www.bauen-fuer-emotionen.de/http://www.dynamo-dresden.de/verein/stadion/

References