Content: Looking back

Looking back

The Letzigrund sports ground was opened on 22 November 1925. It was built by the members of FC Zurich, which was still a multisport association at the time. From this point onwards, the Swiss football association permitted national team matches to be played at Letzigrund, and the first cup final in the history of Swiss football also took place at Letzigrund in 1926. The FC Zurich initially owned the stadium, but the financial difficulties of the 1930s compelled the association to hand over the stadium to the city of Zurich in the winter of 1936/37, whereupon the athletics, hockey, boxing and rowing sections gained autonomy. Letzigrund was rebuilt and extended several times during its existence: the entire complex required renovation ten years after opening. A large grandstand was commissioned in 1958. In 1973, both main stands were renovated and roofed and lighting installed. Eleven years later, the East stand was also equipped with seating. An open air concert (Bon Jovi) took place at Letzigrund for the first time in 1996.

Finally, demolition of the old Stadion Letzigrund started on 22 August 2006 to make way for the new construction.

Looking back

1896 Founding of the FCZ (Fussballclub Zurich) with a sports ground in Utogrund
1923 The FCZ leases Letzigrund from the city and constructs a sports complex
1925 Opening of Stadion Letzigrund with a GC-FCZ city derby
1926 First international match at Letzigrund (Switzerland-Italy 1:1)
1928 First athletics – American meeting
1930 Construction of a concrete stand
1935 The city of Zurich buys back the stadium buildings from the FCZ and extends the athletics facilities
1953 Plans for a large stadium for the 1956 World Cup fail in the referendum
1958 Reconstruction of the West stand
1973 First ‘Weltklasse Zurich’ athletics meeting
1984 Reconstruction of the East stand
1988 ‘Weltklasse Zurich’ selected by the IAAF as the best meeting in the world
2001 Competition for a multisport stadium (football and athletics) in Hardturm
2002 Landmark decision for the new construction of two stadiums; Letzigrund (athletics) and Hardturm (football)
2004 Architectural competition for the Letzigrund reconstruction
2005 5 June: Zurich referendum; ‘yes’ to the new Letzigrund
2005 15 November: ground-breaking ceremony for the Letzigrund reconstruction
2006 18 August: Last ‘Weltklasse Zurich’ at the old Letzigrund
2006 20 August: FCZ farewell match at the old Letzigrund, subsequent demolition of the stadium