Stade de Suisse Wankdorf history and facts

Full name:

Stade de Suisse Wankdorf

Nickname(s):

Miracle of Bern

Location:

Berne, Switzerland

Built:

2005

Opened:

July 30, 2005

Owner:

Former names:

Tenants:

BSC Young Boys

Capacity:

32,000

Facts & History

1 Stadium Overview
2 Stadium History
3 Seating Chart
4 Getting There
- 4.1 Map
5 City Information
6 Important Links
7 References

Stadium Overview

The Stade de Suisse Wankdorf stadium was opened in August 2005 is is referred to as the "Miracle of Berne". The stadium is home to the BSC Young Boys and is built to seat 32,000 football fans.

Stade de Suisse will host 3 matches during the UEFA EURO 2008. This stadium and the area around it have a shopping center, restaurants, a public school, offices and apartments.

Stadium History

The Berne football club FC Young Boys played on the sports field near the hospital Acker until 1925 when the first Wankdorf stadium was built for 22,000 spectators around the field. It took seven months of construction time to build that venue, and in that same year the association's name was changed to Bern Young Boys Sports Club (BSC YB).

After 40 years of football, the first Wankdorf stadium became too small. In addition, the venue needed to meet the higher requirements of the upcoming football World Cup in 1954. After a final game, the main grandstand was demolished in 1951.

A year earlier, the city of Berne authorised a new stadium to be constructed, and the architects Virgilio Muzzulini and Walter Haemmig designed the second Wankdorf stadium. That stadium could hold 64,000 spectators with 8,000 seats.

The 1954 inauguration was celebrated only a few weeks before the FIFA World Championships on Pentecost Monday. On this occasion the home club FBSC Young Boys played against the former top national team Hungary a friendly game. The Hungarians destroyed the Young Boys 0 to 9 and confirmed the Hungarians were a superior team.

There were many memorable championship games that followed, including Swiss cup finals, international matches, the semi-finals in the European Cup of Champions in the Wankdorfrasen.

Seating Chart

The section that that hard-core Young Boys sit in is sector D, the "Ostkurve Berne". There is also a section for families in the "family zone". Children and their parents enjoy reduced prices in this area of the stadium.

Getting There

There are many tram lines leading to the Stade de Suisse stadium.

Tram No. 9 Guisanplatz
No. 20 to Wyler
Several trains to S-Bahn Wankdorf station
RBS Bus No. 28 to Wankdorfplatz
RBS Lines 40 and 41 to Wankdorf Center

Map

City Information

Berne is located in west-central Switzerland on the River Aare. Legend says that the founder of Berne killed a bear in the Aare peninsula and therefore named the city Berne, German for bear. In keeping with the legend, Berne has Bear Pits. 2 Pyrenean brown bears live here and are out in the open everyday for visitors to drop by, and check out bear life.

The main shopping district in Berne is Spital and Marktgasse. This area is in the center of Old Town and is the longest covered shopping area in Europe. It’s a great place in the winter because you will never feel the outside temperatures as you walk, shop and eat at your leisure.

Sights

Clock Tower
The Clock Tower(Zeitglockenturm) was Bern's first western city gate (1191 - 1256) and formed the boundary of the first city extension. Today it is one of Bern's most popular attractions. The intricately adorned astronomical calendar clock was created in 1530.

City of Fountains
There are well over 100 fountains in Berne. 11 of them to this day feature the original statues with their beautiful allegorical figures. These fountains - Gerechtigkeit (Justice), Chindlifresser (Ogre), Zähringen and many more - dating from the 16th century bear testimony to the wealth of the bourgeoisie at that time.

Dählhölzli Zoological Gardens Bern
The Zoological Gardens nestle between the River Aare and Dählhölzli Forest. The great variety of species includes exotic animals, such as the basilisk lizard (basiliskus plumifrons) in the tropical vivarium, free-flying butterflies and fire weavers, as well as European animals, such as fish otters, musk oxen, lynx, wolfs, elks, reindeer and ibises.

Tierpark Dählhölzli
Tierparkweg 1
3005 Berne
Tel. +41 (0)31 357 15 15
Open 365 days a year
Summer: 08.00 - 18.30
Winter: 09.00 - 17.00

Local Area Favourites

Restaurants:
Eleven. A Gourmet restaurant, bar and lounge inside the stadium.
Mon – Wed 07:30 – 23.30
Saturday 07.30 - 00:30

Address:
Papiermühlestrasse 71
CH-3014 Berne
Tel +41 (31) 344 82 52

ChinaImperial, Bärenplatz. Chinese food.
Lorenzini, Hotelgasse 8. Tuscan food.
Markthalle, Bubenbergplatz 9. Indoor mall.

Cafes
Café des Pyrénées, Kornhausplatz 17.
Café Litteraire, in Stauffacher bookshop, Neuengasse 25. Espresso Bar.

Bars
Drei Eidgenossen, Rathausgasse 69. In Old Town.
Tübeli, Rathausgasse 50

Nightlife
Babalu, Gurtengasse 3
Shakira, Hirschengraben 24
Wasserwerk, Wasserwerkgasse 5

Travel Tips

Train - SBB
SBB, the Swiss Federal Railways is a great way to get around. Berne is connected directly to the international railway network, and is the only European capital city connected by all three high speed trains: the TGV, ICE and Cisalpino from Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

Bus - Bernmobil
Tram and bus lines are well-networked and extensive. There are regular connections from the main railway station, cost for one-way starts at CHF 1.90. Tickets can be purchased obtained from the ticket automats at most stops.