Generali Arena

The Generali Arena stands in southern Vienna, a football stadium that FK Austria Wien has called home since 1973. Built in 1925 for Czech immigrants’ club SK Slovan, it began as the České srdce ground with space for 10,850 spectators. The Second World War left the stadium heavily damaged, but each stand has since been rebuilt several times. After the war the venue briefly hosted motorcycle speedway, including a 1960 World Championship qualifying round. In 1961 the Vienna Football Association took over and renamed it the WFV Stadium before honouring its president Franz Horr in 1974. The stadium carries the name Generali Arena under a sponsorship deal with the Italian insurance group. FK Austria Wien plays its domestic matches here, while European fixtures appear under the neutral name Viola Park. Recent reconstructions between 2016 and 2018 added two-tier East, West and North stands and a Top-VIP area in the North stand. The rebuilt stadium now holds up to 17,600 spectators. Plans to stage the 2020 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors find a modern football ground with three fully rebuilt stands and a VIP section. The pitch is surrounded by a wide running track that once hosted speedway races. The stadium’s history is visible in the reconstructed stands and the commemorative name for Franz Horr. On match days the atmosphere rises with the cheers of FK Austria Wien supporters. Away from the pitch, the southern Vienna district offers cafés and local transport links. The Generali Arena remains a living piece of the city’s sporting life.