Pappelstadion

The Pappelstadion is a football stadium in Mattersburg, a town in Burgenland, Austria. It sits in the east of the town beside the Mattersburger Viadukt, a 284-metre railway viadôt opened in 1847. The stadium is part of a larger sports and leisure centre that includes an indoor swimming pool. Tall poplar trees surround the ground and give the stadium its name. The stadium was opened in 1952 to mark the club’s 30th anniversary. Rapid Vienna, Austria’s most successful club at the time, played an exhibition match and won 9–3 in front of 7,000 spectators. Speedway races once drew thousands, with local riders such as Josef Kamper and the Luther brothers attracting big crowds. After renovations in the early 2000s the capacity rose to 17,100, and a record 18,600 watched the 2003 cup quarter-final against Grazer AK. Inside, the main stand built in 2001 is the only covered seating area. Opposite it stands a smaller open V.I.P. stand with a tent behind for hospitality. The north side has a grass embankment for standing fans, while the south side features a steel-roofed terrace for home supporters. The guest section is a separate steel-roofed block. The active home fans occupy a corner block between the main stand and the embankment.