We were recently on our travels and very lucky to see a little of what goes on behind the scenes at Rapid Vienna.
In our latest instalment, we get to see into the home dressing rooms, the various technical areas and out onto the pitch.
The Allianz Arena was opened in 2016. Built on the site of the old Rapid ground with a capacity of 28,000 for league games and 24,000 for European matches.
It’s compact – the space was used well and inside the ground I am sure it will be a fantastic atmosphere as the design looks as if it will channel the noise right onto the pitch and around all the stands. The stands are fairly steep and in the “British style” set close to the field of play.
Rapid worked with their fans to try and include as a much of the ethos of the club and how the fans see themselves into the various design features. Club slogans and portraits of their great heroes adorn the walls.
You can travel to the stadium from the city of the U4 line underground – although it might suit away fans to use the tram line which brings you up on the side opposite the main stand – a walk through a gap in housing brings you into the away end beside their training pitches.
Our guide Matthias was very helpful despite recent knee surgery. Many thanks!
Here’s a video of the walk around we were given – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAbS6DPbLs0
Club slogan in the Rapid Vienna home dressing room.
Inside the Rapid Vienna home dressing room.
Ernst Happel wall mural and the green/white band which runs around the walls of the ground.
Wall mural inside Weststadion, Vienna.
Rapid – the home end with banners from the three main fan groups.
