UPC-Arena

The UPC-Arena (formerly Arnold Schwarzenegger-Stadium) in Graz, Styria, Austria, is the home of the football clubs SK Sturm Graz and Grazer AK.

History

Originally, the stadium was named after bodybuilder and governor of the U.S. state of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was born near Graz. It was built from 1995 to early 1997 and is owned by "Stadion Liebenau Betriebs GmbH". It opened with the game Grazer AK vs. SK Sturm Graz on July 9th, 1997 (0:4). In December 2005, when Schwarzenegger did not stop the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, an intense discussion in his hometown began about what to do with the stadium that bore his name. After some days, Schwarzenegger revoked the city of Graz's right to the use of his name, ending the debate. On the night of December 26th, 2005 the name was removed from the stadium. The remaining part Stadion Graz-Liebenau was removed on February 17th, 2006. Since February 18th, 2006 the stadium is called UPC-Arena.

Facts

The UPC-Arena offers 15,400 spectators place in 27 sectors. The away fans are normally in sector 8, which has a capacity of about 750. When more away fans are expected, sector 9 with about 750 seats is also given to the away team and sometimes even also sector 10. At Champions League-games of the SK Sturm Graz, some additional platforms were built so that the stadium had a capacity of 16,000 spectators. Furthermore, the stadium has a wheelchair area.The first game in the "new" UPC-Arena was the 125th derby between SK Sturm Graz and Grazer AK (0:0).The field equipped with a lawn heating has a size of 105 x 68 metres.

The sponsor

UPC Telekabel got the advantage opposite different companies, such as thermal spring Loipersdorf, the former tennis player Thomas Muster (with his own brand TOMS) or T-Mobile and pays more than 150,000 euros per annum, according to president Thomas Hintze. The contract was concluded for 10 years to 2016.

External links

* [http://www.upctelekabel.at/ Homepage of UPC Telekabel Austria]
* [http://www.sksturm.net/ Homepage of SK Sturm Graz]
* [http://www.gak.at/ Homepage of Liebherr GAK]