27:
240:
345:, an intense discussion in his hometown began about what to do with the stadium that bore his name. After some days, Schwarzenegger revoked the city of Graz's right to the use of his name, ending the debate. On the night of 26 December 2005 the name was removed from the stadium. The remaining part
349:
was removed on 17 February 2006 and on 18 February 2006 the stadium was renamed to UPC-Arena. In March 2016 the
Austrian insurance company Merkur Versicherung secured the rights to bear a name and the stadium was renamed to
1024:
307:
in 1965 and 1970. In the 1970s it became home ground of the big football clubs of Graz, SK Sturm and Grazer AK. The stadium was demolished to make way for a new one.
400:
902:
1017:
744:
1164:
1248:
1233:
1010:
997:
1218:
299:. In the 1950s it was renovated and expanded with a skating rink (now home of the ice hockey team Graz 99ers) and an indoor pool. A
1243:
1033:
726:
1238:
380:, some additional platforms were built so that the stadium had a capacity of 16,000 spectators. Furthermore, the stadium has a
681:
Since 2012 SK Sturm Graz continuously played in the stadium, while GAK returned 2019 when they reached the 2nd league again.
1228:
701:
408:
78:
1203:
411:
on 5 September 2009 which ended in 3–1 victory for the home team. It also hosted an international friendly between
416:
404:
692:
Merkur
Versicherung won the sponsorship rights from 2016. The contract is set to last for 10 years until 2026.
412:
872:
439:
The average season attendances from league matches held at the Merkur-Arena for Grazer AK and SK Sturm Graz.
219:
71:
304:
364:('Ivica-Osim-Square'), a long time player and trainer of SK Sturm Graz, who had died the previous year.
1106:
981:
770:
1086:
342:
1223:
1208:
315:
1002:
373:
319:
1046:
1146:
1116:
689:
From 2006 to 2016 the stadium was sponsored by UPC Austria, and was known as the UPC-Arena
946:
8:
925:
424:
300:
820:
1213:
1056:
158:
706:
1126:
1066:
128:
1136:
1096:
264:
60:
846:
396:(4:0). The field equipped with undersoil heating has a size of 105 x 68 metres.
795:
1197:
1179:
1166:
897:
420:
419:
on 30 May 2010. England had been training in
Irdning, a small village in the
389:
377:
335:
280:
211:
93:
80:
310:
In 1996, construction began on the new stadium, which was to be named after
296:
303:
track was constructed around the pitch and hosted qualifing rounds of the
231:
311:
381:
359:
357:
In 2023, the city of Graz renamed the forecourt of the Merkur Arena to
372:
The Merkur-Arena has an official capacity of 15,400 in 27 sectors. At
26:
393:
331:
284:
239:
215:
341:
In
December 2005, when Schwarzenegger did not stop the execution of
428:
276:
64:
1032:
272:
900:[Graz receives Ivica-Osim- and Grete-Schurz-Square].
745:"Merkur als neuer Namenssponsor für das Liebenauer Stadion"
323:
268:
146:
121:
56:
989:
973:
326:. It was built from 1996 to early 1997 and is owned by
939:
727:"LIEBENAUER STADIUM GETS NEW NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR"
918:
873:"Hometown Snubs Schwarzenegger Over Death Penalty"
427:. The match ended 2–1 to England, courtesy of two
898:"Graz bekommt Ivica-Osim- und Grete-Schurz-Platz"
1195:
279:. The ground is the home of the football clubs
1018:
295:The first Liebenau Stadion was built before
1025:
1011:
865:
41:Arnold Schwarzenegger-Stadion (1995–2005)
238:
232:https://mcg.at/locations/merkur-arena/#
1196:
1006:
434:
1249:20th-century architecture in Austria
1034:2024–25 Austrian Football Bundesliga
974:Homepage of Merkur Insurance Austria
928:. European-football-statistics.co.uk
702:List of football stadiums in Austria
1234:American football venues in Austria
16:Football stadium in Styria, Austria
13:
384:area. The first game in the "new"
14:
1260:
964:
847:"Schwarzenegger in Austrian spat"
318:of the U.S. state of California,
43:Stadion Graz-Liebenau (2005–2006)
1219:Buildings and structures in Graz
907:(in Austrian German). 2023-05-24
25:
1244:Sports venues completed in 1997
1239:1997 establishments in Austria
890:
839:
813:
788:
763:
737:
719:
328:Stadion Liebenau Betriebs GmbH
113:Stadion Liebenau Betriebs GmbH
1:
712:
257:Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium
662:
659:
656:
649:
646:
643:
636:
633:
630:
623:
620:
617:
610:
607:
604:
597:
594:
591:
584:
581:
578:
571:
568:
565:
560:
555:
552:
547:
542:
539:
532:
529:
526:
519:
516:
513:
506:
503:
500:
493:
490:
487:
480:
477:
474:
467:
464:
461:
388:was the 125th derby between
220:2011 IFAF World Championship
135:15,323 (international games)
7:
1229:Tourist attractions in Graz
695:
684:
678:Dissolved after 6 matches.
305:Speedway World Championship
10:
1265:
1204:Football venues in Austria
330:. It opened with the game
290:
1041:
982:Homepage of SK Sturm Graz
796:"1970 World Championship"
771:"1965 World Championship"
674:Relegated to 3rd league.
423:, in preparation for the
230:
225:
210:
205:
187:
169:
164:
153:
139:
127:
117:
109:
70:
49:
37:
33:
24:
367:
133:16,364 (domestic games)
1080:(Grazer AK, Sturm Graz)
343:Stanley Tookie Williams
255:(formerly known as the
947:"Bundesliga 2010/2011"
338:on 9 July 1997 (0:4).
244:
193:; 27 years ago
175:; 29 years ago
1180:47.04611°N 15.45444°E
990:Homepage of Grazer AK
399:The stadium hosted a
347:Stadion Graz-Liebenau
320:Arnold Schwarzenegger
243:Panorama of the Arena
242:
94:47.04611°N 15.45444°E
45:UPC-Arena (2006–2016)
1147:Tivoli Stadion Tirol
1117:Stadion Schnabelholz
1050:(Austria Klagenfurt)
322:, who was born near
1176: /
949:. Worldfootball.net
425:2010 FIFA World Cup
401:World Cup qualifier
314:, actor and former
301:motorcycle speedway
251:, sponsored as the
173:9 January 1995
157:Natural grass with
145:(114.8 x 74.4
90: /
21:
1185:47.04611; 15.45444
1120:(Rheindorf Altach)
1077:Liebenauer Stadium
1057:Franz Horr Stadium
1047:Wörthersee Stadion
877:The New York Times
853:. 20 December 2005
733:. 26 October 2015.
435:Average attendance
249:Liebenauer Stadium
245:
159:under-soil heating
99:47.04611; 15.45444
53:Ivica-Osim-Platz 1
19:
1159:
1158:
926:"EFS Attendances"
751:. 23 October 2015
707:Lists of stadiums
669:
668:
237:
236:
1256:
1191:
1190:
1188:
1187:
1186:
1181:
1177:
1174:
1173:
1172:
1169:
1152:
1151:
1142:
1141:
1140:(Wolfsberger AC)
1132:
1131:
1127:Stadion Hartberg
1122:
1121:
1112:
1111:
1102:
1101:
1092:
1091:
1087:Raiffeisen Arena
1082:
1081:
1072:
1071:
1070:(Blau-Weiß Linz)
1067:Donauparkstadion
1062:
1061:
1052:
1051:
1027:
1020:
1013:
1004:
1003:
996:
988:
980:
972:
958:
957:
955:
954:
943:
937:
936:
934:
933:
922:
916:
915:
913:
912:
894:
888:
887:
885:
884:
869:
863:
862:
860:
858:
843:
837:
836:
834:
832:
825:The Away Section
817:
811:
810:
808:
806:
792:
786:
785:
783:
781:
767:
761:
760:
758:
756:
741:
735:
734:
723:
442:
441:
374:Champions League
201:
199:
194:
191:9 July 1997
183:
181:
176:
105:
104:
102:
101:
100:
95:
91:
88:
87:
86:
83:
29:
22:
18:
1264:
1263:
1259:
1258:
1257:
1255:
1254:
1253:
1194:
1193:
1184:
1182:
1178:
1175:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1163:
1162:
1160:
1155:
1149:
1145:
1139:
1137:Lavanttal-Arena
1135:
1129:
1125:
1119:
1115:
1109:
1105:
1100:(SK Rapid Wien)
1099:
1097:Allianz Stadion
1095:
1089:
1085:
1079:
1075:
1069:
1065:
1059:
1055:
1049:
1045:
1037:
1031:
994:
986:
978:
970:
967:
962:
961:
952:
950:
945:
944:
940:
931:
929:
924:
923:
919:
910:
908:
896:
895:
891:
882:
880:
871:
870:
866:
856:
854:
845:
844:
840:
830:
828:
827:. 7 August 2016
819:
818:
814:
804:
802:
794:
793:
789:
779:
777:
769:
768:
764:
754:
752:
743:
742:
738:
725:
724:
720:
715:
698:
687:
437:
370:
293:
218:
214:
197:
195:
192:
179:
177:
174:
144:
143:105 x 68 m
134:
98:
96:
92:
89:
84:
81:
79:
77:
76:
63:
54:
44:
42:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1262:
1252:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1153:
1143:
1133:
1130:(TSV Hartberg)
1123:
1113:
1107:Red Bull Arena
1103:
1093:
1083:
1073:
1063:
1060:(Austria Wien)
1053:
1042:
1039:
1038:
1030:
1029:
1022:
1015:
1007:
1001:
1000:
992:
984:
976:
966:
965:External links
963:
960:
959:
938:
917:
889:
864:
838:
812:
787:
775:Metal Speedway
762:
749:Kleine Zeitung
736:
717:
716:
714:
711:
710:
709:
704:
697:
694:
686:
683:
667:
666:
661:
658:
654:
653:
648:
645:
641:
640:
635:
632:
628:
627:
622:
619:
615:
614:
609:
606:
602:
601:
596:
593:
589:
588:
583:
580:
576:
575:
570:
567:
563:
562:
559:
554:
550:
549:
546:
541:
537:
536:
531:
528:
524:
523:
518:
515:
511:
510:
505:
502:
498:
497:
492:
489:
485:
484:
479:
476:
472:
471:
466:
463:
459:
458:
453:
448:
436:
433:
369:
366:
292:
289:
235:
234:
228:
227:
223:
222:
208:
207:
203:
202:
189:
185:
184:
171:
167:
166:
162:
161:
155:
151:
150:
141:
137:
136:
131:
125:
124:
119:
115:
114:
111:
107:
106:
74:
68:
67:
51:
47:
46:
39:
35:
34:
31:
30:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1261:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1224:Sport in Graz
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1209:SK Sturm Graz
1207:
1205:
1202:
1201:
1199:
1192:
1189:
1148:
1144:
1138:
1134:
1128:
1124:
1118:
1114:
1110:(RB Salzburg)
1108:
1104:
1098:
1094:
1088:
1084:
1078:
1074:
1068:
1064:
1058:
1054:
1048:
1044:
1043:
1040:
1035:
1028:
1023:
1021:
1016:
1014:
1009:
1008:
1005:
999:
993:
991:
985:
983:
977:
975:
969:
968:
948:
942:
927:
921:
906:
904:
899:
893:
878:
874:
868:
852:
848:
842:
826:
822:
816:
801:
797:
791:
776:
772:
766:
750:
746:
740:
732:
728:
722:
718:
708:
705:
703:
700:
699:
693:
690:
682:
679:
677:
673:
665:
655:
652:
642:
639:
629:
626:
616:
613:
603:
600:
590:
587:
577:
574:
564:
558:
551:
545:
538:
535:
525:
522:
512:
509:
499:
496:
486:
483:
473:
470:
460:
457:
456:SK Sturm Graz
454:
452:
449:
447:
444:
443:
440:
432:
430:
426:
422:
421:Austrian Alps
418:
414:
410:
409:Faroe Islands
406:
402:
397:
395:
391:
390:SK Sturm Graz
387:
383:
379:
378:SK Sturm Graz
376:games of the
375:
365:
363:
361:
355:
353:
348:
344:
339:
337:
336:SK Sturm Graz
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
308:
306:
302:
298:
288:
286:
282:
281:SK Sturm Graz
278:
274:
270:
266:
263:), is in the
262:
258:
254:
250:
241:
233:
229:
224:
221:
217:
213:
209:
204:
190:
186:
172:
168:
163:
160:
156:
152:
148:
142:
138:
132:
130:
126:
123:
120:
116:
112:
108:
103:
75:
73:
69:
66:
62:
58:
52:
48:
40:
36:
32:
28:
23:
1161:
1076:
995:(in Russian)
951:. Retrieved
941:
930:. Retrieved
920:
909:. Retrieved
901:
892:
881:. Retrieved
879:. 2005-12-27
876:
867:
855:. Retrieved
850:
841:
829:. Retrieved
824:
821:"Sturm Graz"
815:
803:. Retrieved
800:Speedway.org
799:
790:
778:. Retrieved
774:
765:
753:. Retrieved
748:
739:
730:
721:
691:
688:
680:
675:
671:
670:
663:
650:
637:
624:
611:
598:
585:
572:
556:
543:
533:
520:
507:
494:
481:
468:
455:
450:
445:
438:
398:
385:
371:
358:
356:
352:Merkur-Arena
351:
346:
340:
327:
309:
297:World War II
294:
260:
256:
253:Merkur-Arena
252:
248:
246:
170:Broke ground
165:Construction
122:City of Graz
38:Former names
20:Merkur-Arena
1183: /
1150:(WSG Tirol)
987:(in German)
979:(in German)
971:(in German)
312:bodybuilder
97: /
72:Coordinates
1198:Categories
1171:15°27′16″E
1168:47°02′46″N
953:2011-03-14
932:2011-03-14
911:2023-07-01
905:Steiermark
883:2013-02-12
831:27 January
805:27 January
780:27 January
713:References
488:1999–2000
431:by Japan.
382:wheelchair
360:Ivica-Osim
212:Sturm Graz
198:1997-07-09
180:1995-01-09
140:Field size
85:15°27′16″E
82:47°02′46″N
1214:Grazer AK
998:UPC-Arena
660:1,809 **
451:Grazer AK
429:own goals
394:Grazer AK
386:UPC-Arena
332:Grazer AK
285:Grazer AK
261:UPC-Arena
216:Grazer AK
857:22 April
851:BBC News
755:22 April
731:Soccerex
696:See also
685:Sponsors
657:2012–13
644:2011–12
631:2010–11
618:2009–10
605:2008–09
595:2,792 *
592:2007–08
579:2006–07
566:2005–06
553:2004–05
540:2003–04
527:2002–03
514:2001–02
501:2000–01
475:1998–99
462:1997–98
403:between
316:governor
267:area of
265:Liebenau
129:Capacity
118:Operator
61:Liebenau
50:Location
413:England
405:Austria
291:History
277:Austria
226:Website
206:Tenants
196: (
178: (
154:Surface
65:Austria
1090:(LASK)
1036:venues
664:10,682
651:10,827
647:3,618
638:11,875
634:2,548
625:11,726
621:1,800
612:12,830
608:2,590
599:12,015
582:5,807
569:7,372
561:6,739
548:7,836
530:6,919
521:10,057
517:7,294
508:10,831
504:5,631
495:11,123
491:6,584
482:10,972
478:7,040
465:8,772
446:Season
362:-Platz
273:Styria
188:Opened
586:9,546
573:8,330
557:8,396
544:9,007
534:7,374
469:9,167
417:Japan
368:Facts
110:Owner
55:8041
859:2017
833:2024
807:2024
782:2024
757:2017
415:and
407:and
392:and
334:vs.
324:Graz
283:and
269:Graz
259:and
247:The
57:Graz
903:ORF
1200::
875:.
849:.
823:.
798:.
773:.
747:.
729:.
676:**
354:.
287:.
275:,
271:,
147:yd
1026:e
1019:t
1012:v
956:.
935:.
914:.
886:.
861:.
835:.
809:.
784:.
759:.
672:*
200:)
182:)
149:)
59:-
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.