Merkur Arena

Stadion Graz-Liebenau stands in the Liebenau district of Graz, a city in the Austrian province of Styria. It is a football stadium surrounded by sports facilities built over many decades. The site began with a simple stadium before the Second World War, then grew to include an ice rink, an indoor pool and a speedway track. In the 1970s the old ground became home to SK Sturm Graz and Grazer AK. After demolition, the current stadium was constructed in 1996 and 1997. The stadium is worth visiting for its role in Austrian football and its links to local history. It hosted the first match between Grazer AK and Sturm Graz in July 1997, which ended 4–0. The ground has seen international games, including a 2009 World Cup qualifier where Austria beat the Faroe Islands 3–1. In 2010 England played Japan here during their World Cup preparation, winning 2–1. The stadium also carries the name of Ivica Osim, a respected former player and coach of Sturm Graz. Inside, the Merkur-Arena holds 15,400 spectators across 27 sectors, with extra platforms for European matches bringing the total to 16,000. The pitch measures 105 by 68 metres and has undersoil heating. The forecourt outside is named Ivica-Osim-Platz. Visitors can walk around the stadium and see the surrounding sports buildings, including the ice rink used by the Graz 99ers. The area remains a focus for local sporting events and community gatherings.