Hallenstadion
ZSC Lions (since 1950)
The Hallenstadion in Zurich Oerlikon is one of the largest multi-purpose halls in Europe and one of two major stadiums in Zurich. It is since 1950 also the home of the ZSC Lions.
Outside Switzerland, Hallenstadion is known as host to various sports major events ( World Ice Hockey Championships, Six Days ), but especially for the concerts that take place in well-known musicians and bands.
History
The impetus for the construction of the indoor stadium was in the 1930 bad weather. After repeated events had to be canceled on the open velodrome Oerlikon, we examined the possibility of a canopy and a possible new building. For the latter was allowed at the then independent municipality Oerlikon a plot between the open racetrack respectively Wallisellenstrasse and the embankment of the so-called NOB original route Oerlikon -Winterthur keep clear.
In the second incorporation of 1934 was part of Oerlikon Zurich Hallenstadion and the project was awarded by the lack of space in the old parts of the city an extra boost. A first step towards the realization was made on September 20, 1935 and March 9, 1937, the cooperative Hallenstadion was founded, which was converted into a corporation already on July 17. The corporation Hallenstadion Zurich presented the financing of the construction safe and the target, the indoor stadium sat open to public appeal while being held in Zurich 1939 National Exhibition.
With the construction of the Hallenstadion, whose planning by the architects Charles Egender and the engineer Robert Naef happened, began on May 2, 1938. Despite all efforts, no longer able to build during the Landi complete '39 and scheduled for July 18, 1939 opening has been postponed. The large opening on November 4, 1939 finally found outside Switzerland, in view of the outbreak of World War II, hardly any attention. She was at that time the largest sports hall in Europe.
The heart of the building was the oval-shaped 250 -meter-long racetrack that was the original reason for the construction of the hall. Only at a smaller renovation, the art ice rink was built in the Arena within the racecourse as the second heart of the plant and inaugurated on 18 November 1950 as the first indoor ice rink in Switzerland. Thus, the indoor stadium was the new home of the Zurich Ice Club ( SAC), who moved from the Dolder in Hottingen district, according to Oerlikon.
Through the sustainable second floor hall, which can be flexibly apply to the slightly recessed ice in the arena, the indoor stadium could still be used even after installation of the ice as a multi -purpose hall. The number of events increased rapidly in the following years. In 1954, the first six-day race in Zurich was conducted on the indoor track. The first concert took place in 1955 at the Hallenstadion. This important addition to function today opened Louis Armstrong.
The Hallenstadion hosted in addition to regular cycling, equestrian events, hockey games and concerts, Ice Hockey World Championships in 1953 and 1998, the Men's Handball World Championships 1986, boxing, motocross racing ( from 1982), operas ( Aida ), variety shows, Musikantenstadl tour Musicals, Art on Ice, various stage programs, since 1992, the Energy, exhibitions and fairs such as Züspa, conferences, congresses and general assemblies major Swiss corporations. In addition, large euro vision programs are held at the Hallenstadion such as the International final of the Grand Prix of folk music.
Conversion
After more than sixty years of intensive use the now landmarked Indoor Stadium between July 2004 and August 2005 for CHF 147 million has been extensively renovated. While the building has remained largely unchanged externally, inside a completely new stadium arose.
The most obvious change is the task of the racetrack. However, it was again made by December 28, 2006 to January 2, 2007 for the first time a six-day race at the Hallenstadion. The railway was built temporary and is only 200 meters long ( 50 feet shorter than before ). The new focus is now but the ice and the countless jacket uses. The central element is the new stem, the Conference Center, instead of the open space in front of the old entrance. The new Conference Center offers the first wheelchair-accessible access to the stadium. The audience streams were banished from the ancient catacombs and a novelty private lodges for the sponsors were created. In addition to the renovation of the team dressing rooms and finally the improvised individual dressing rooms for artists were set up. Also new are padded folding seats and the ability to cool the hall.
The completion of the renovation work marked the public presentation of the hall as part of a festival on 31 July 2005. This included tours of the entire facility and a show program on the new ice surface, including a showtraining the ZSC. The regular operation of the hall was taken on August 5, with a meeting of the Dalai Lama. The indoor stadium has a capacity of 13 000 spectators since the rebuild.