Casino-Stadion Hohe Warte

Hohe Warte Stadium stands on a hill in Heiligenstadt, a northern district of Vienna. Built into the slope, it forms a natural amphitheatre with grass banks on three sides. The fourth side holds a modern main stand, the only part now in regular use. First Vienna FC have played here since the stadium opened in 1921. The ground once hosted major events including rugby internationals, American football matches and open-air opera conducted by Pietro Mascagni. In its early years the stadium drew huge crowds. Austria’s national football team played many matches here in the 1920s and 1930s. A 1923 game against Italy drew 85,000 spectators, the ground’s record attendance. The venue also staged boxing bouts and even served briefly as a giant open-air cinema after the Second World War. First Vienna’s league titles in the 1940s and 1950s kept the stadium busy despite losing its top status in 1931. Visitors today see a much quieter scene. The three grass banks remain but are no longer open to spectators. The main stand offers seating for 5,500 people. The surrounding hillside still frames the ground, giving it a green, open feel. First Vienna’s matches continue here, watched by smaller crowds than in the past. The stadium’s history lingers in the quiet slopes and the single modern stand.