Key facts
Club: FK Austria Wien | Opening: 1982 | Capacity: 17,500
History and description
Austria Wien did not have a permanent home until the 1960s, moving instead between different grounds and using the large Praterstadion for their important matches.
In 1967, however, the club changed policy and started looking for a proper home. They tested various grounds, and in 1973 ended up at a ground that had previously been used by a side of Czech immigrants.
Austria Wien played their first match at the ground, then still called Ceske Srdce, on 26 August 1973.
A few months later, Franz Horr, the president of the Vienna Football Association who had extensively lobbied for a new stadium, died and the club and city decided to name the stadium in his honour.
Plans were made for an extensive redevelopment, however these got consistently delayed, which forced Austria to move out again.
It took until 1982 for a first new stand to get built, and on 22 August 1982 Franz-Horr-Stadion officially opened with the Cup final between Austria and Wacker Innsbruck (3-1).
The newly built North Stand complemented an extensively renovated South Stand, and four years later, in 1986, a new covered terrace was opened on the western end of the stadium.
Franz-Horr-Stadion remained unchanged for the next decade until in 1998 a new Main Stand replaced the renovated South Stand.
The stadium underwent a last change in 2008 when a new two-tiered East Stand opened and renovations were performed on the West Stand.
In 2010, Austria reached a naming rights deal with insurance firm Generali, resulting in the new name Generali Arena.
In the summer of 2016, extensive works started to turn the Generali Arena into a modern stadium. The stadium closed for two years, while two new stands got built that would form a whole with the two-tiered East Stand. The Main Stand remained standing, resulting in a capacity of 17,500 seats. During the works, Austria played their home games at Ernst Happel Stadion.
Works were completed in 2018 and the completed stadium reopened in July 2018.
(the Generali Arena before 2016)
How to get to the Generali Arena
The Generali Arena is located in the south of Vienna at approximately 5.5 kilometres from Vienna’s historic centre and 4 kilometres from the Belvedere palace.
If arriving by public transport, take metro (U-Bahn) U1 to Altes Landgut, which lies right next to the stadium. Metro U1 can be caught right in Vienna’s historic centre at the Stephansplatz or Karlsplatz.
From the area of Schönbrunn Castle take bus 15a. Take the bus from metro stop Meidling Hauptstraße in the direction of Enkplatz. Get off at stop Altes Landgut.
If arriving by car, take exit Vierteilerkreis from the A23 motorway. There is parking directly at the Vierteilerkreis square or a little further away at FH Campus Wien or EKZ Hanssonzentrum.
Address: Fischhofgasse 12, A-1100 Wien
Eat, drink, and sleep near the Generali Arena
The Generali Arena is located in an area which is a mix of houses, apartment flats, office buildings, parks, and other sports facilities. You will be able to find the odd café or fast food outlet close to the stadium, but the options pale in comparison of what can be found in Vienna’s centre.
The are no hotels in the immediate vicinity of the Generali Arena, though various apartment rentals. The closest hotels are a 20-minute walk away near metro Reumannplatz or further south near Laaer Berg Kurpark.
Click here to explore some of the hotels and apartments near the Generali Arena, and here for the many options in other parts of Vienna.
Austria Wien Tickets
Tickets for Austria Wien games can be bought online, or in person at the fan shop at the Generali Arena.
Tickets can also be purchased at the ticket windows of the stadium on the day of the match.
Expect to pay between €16.00 and €35.00 for a regular match and a little more for a high-profile match.
Relevant Internet links
Fk-austria.at – Official website of FK Austria Wien.
Wien.info – Online travel guide for Vienna.
Wienerlinien.at – Vienna public transport information.
Photo credits: Ailura