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 |