Willy-Sachs-Stadion
Willy-Sachs-Stadion is a multi-functional football stadium in Schweinfurt, Germany. Since 1936, it has been home stadium to the German football club 1. FC Schweinfurt 05.[3]
Full name | Willy-Sachs-Stadion |
---|---|
Location | Schweinfurt, Germany |
Coordinates | 50°3′4.6″N 10°12′10.9″E |
Owner | City of Schweinfurt |
Capacity | 15,060[1] (860 seated) |
Field size | 105 m × 68 m |
Surface | Grass |
Construction | |
Built | 1934 to 1936 |
Opened | 23 July 1936 |
Renovated | 2001, 2014 |
Construction cost | 1 million RM[2] |
Architect | Paul Bonatz |
Tenants | |
1. FC Schweinfurt 05 TSV Großbardorf (2008–09) |
History
The stadium, built by German architect Paul Bonatz, was a donation from local industrialist Willy Sachs to the City of Schweinfurt. As the club's patron, Willy Sachs designated a privileged right of use of all facilities for 1. FC Schweinfurt 05.[3] Leading politicians of the Third Reich attended the opening ceremony on 23 July 1936.[2][4][5] Three days later, the new Willy-Sachs-Stadion saw its first game, a 2–2 draw between 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 and 1935 German champion FC Schalke 04.[3]
The stadium has been top-tier venue all the time between 1936 and 1963, and was home stadium to second tier football for many of the following years, most recently during the 2001–02 season. In addition, from 1939 on Schweinfurt 05 played a large number of German Cup matches at the stadium.[6][7] Attandance record of the stadium was 22,500 at a friendly between Schweinfurt 05 and 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 1954.[8]
Willy-Sachs-Stadion hosted the 2nd Fistball World Championships in 1972 as well as the Fistball European Championships in 2012. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the stadium served as training ground for the Tunisia national football team. In the 2008–09 season, nearby football club TSV Großbardorf had to move to Schweinfurt due to Regionalliga legislations on stadium capacity. The sports complex regularly is venue for athletics competitions and championships on national level. Occasionally, the neighbouring U.S. Army Garrison, located in Schweinfurt until 2014, had used the stadium for military parades.
Willy-Sachs-Stadion today is listed as historic monument and is thus subject to preservation orders.[9][10][11] As part of the Schweinfurt Lest we forget initiative, in 2001 the local press including Süddeutsche Zeitung and author Werner Skrentny initiated a campaign to rename the stadium due to Sachs' Nazi affiliation. The campaign met with low approval among the general public.[12]
Facilities
The stadium complex consists of the main field with a capacity of 15,060 (the actual Willy-Sachs-Stadion) and several additional courts for training and youth matches, including an artificial turf pitch.[13] The main stadium offers a covered grandstand, hosting 860 seats, and standing rooms around the residual circumference, which is planted with two rows of linden trees. The football field is flanked by various track and field facilities and a classical Marathon gate. Premises at the stadium include changing rooms for players, coaches, and referees. Speaker cabins and a press area are available in the grandstand.
To meet 2nd Bundesliga regulations, in 2001 terracing has been renovated, and the stadium was equipped with floodlight masts.[14] In addition, Schweinfurt's large industry contributed an electronic scoreboard. Due to increased security standards, wavebreakers had to be installed on the standing rooms in 2014 to safeguard the full capacity.[15] In 2019, the grandstand was outfitted with new green and white seats that represent the colours of 1. FC Schweinfurt 05.[16]
References
- "Schweinfurter DFB-Pokalspiel ausverkauft" [DFB-Pokal match sold out] (in German). www.bfv.de. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- "Der braune Schatten" [The brown shadow] (in German). cicero.de. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
- "Geschichte des FC 05 Schweinfurt" [FC Schweinfurt 05 History] (in German). www.schweinfurtfuehrer.de. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
- "Willy-Sachs-Stadion" (in German). www.schweinfurtfuehrer.de. Retrieved 2017-07-31.
- "Schweinfurt Under the Swastika". www.thirdreichruins.com. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
- "1. FC Schweinfurt 05 vs. Eintracht Frankfurt: Das Leuchten im unterfränkischen Zauberwald" (in German). www.turus.net. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
- "DFB Cup Men: 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 vs. FC Schalke 04". tv.dfb.de. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
- "Willy-Sachs-Stadion, 1. FC Schweinfurt 05, Fotos & Infos" (in German). stadioncheck.de. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
- "Schweinfurt – Baudenkmäler" [Schweinfurt – Historic Monuments] (pdf) (in German). geodaten.bayern.de. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- "Denkmäler in Bayern" [Historic Monuments in Bavaria] (in German). www.sueddeutsche.de. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- "Schweinfurt: Willy-Sachs-Stadion" (in German). stadionphotos.blogspot.de. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
- "Der braune Fleck von Schweinfurt" [Schweinfurt's brown spot] (in German). tomkleine.jimdo.com. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
- "Willy-Sachs-Stadion Schweinfurt". www.youtube.de. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
- "Willy-Sachs-Stadion". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- "Im Schweinfurter Willy-Sachs-Stadion werden gerade die Wellenbrecher errichtet" [Wavebreakers for Willy-Sachs-Stadion] (in German). in-und-um-schweinfurt.de. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
- "Der FC 05 wünscht mit der neuen grün-weißen Tribüne Frohe Ostern!" (in German). fcschweinfurt1905.de. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
External links
- Visitor guide with pictures at www.stadionwelt.de