What if these stadium walls could talk? They would tell tales of roaring crowds, stunning victories, and heartbreaking defeats at the DATENPOL ARENA. We are standing before a place steeped in football history. The DATENPOL ARENA is more than just a stadium. It is a landmark in Maria Enzersdorf.
Originally known as Bundesstadion Südstadt, the DATENPOL ARENA was built between 1965 and 1967. Imagine the excitement as it opened its doors on March 4, 1967. The first match saw FC Admira defeat FC Wacker Innsbruck 3:1. Wilhelm “Willy” Kreuz scored the first goal.
For over four decades, it was called Bundesstadion Südstadt. In 2008, it was renamed Trenkwalder Arena until 2013. Then it became the BSFZ-Arena. In 2022, it was named motion_invest Arena. Since October 2023, it has been known as the DATENPOL ARENA.
The DATENPOL ARENA is the home of FC Admira Wacker Mödling. This stadium has a capacity of 10,600. The pitch is natural grass, measuring 105 by 64 meters.
Interestingly, the DATENPOL ARENA has unique grass hills behind the goals. These hills were originally intended for stands. However, due to a lack of funds, they were never built.
In 1970, the stadium hosted a memorable ÖFB-Cup final. Only 1,800 spectators watched FC Wacker Innsbruck beat Linzer ASK 1:0. This was a record low attendance for the cup final.
The DATENPOL ARENA has seen its share of upgrades. In 2008, major renovations included a new floodlight system. A new TV tower was built opposite the main stand in 2009. This improved the television broadcast quality. In 2016, a lawn heating system was installed.
However, not all events went smoothly. During a UEFA Europa League qualifying match in 2016, the floodlights failed multiple times. The game was interrupted for about 45 minutes.
The stadium has a long-term commitment from FC Admira Wacker Mödling. In February 2020, the lease was extended to 2043.
The predecessor to Admira Wacker Mödling, SK Admira Wien, played at the Leopold-Stroh-Stadion. The club’s sponsor, NEWAG/NIOGAS, decided to move the club. They relocated it from Vienna to Maria Enzersdorf. The sponsor built the new Südstadt stadium next to their own premises. While the DATENPOL ARENA has changed names over the years, its legacy remains. It is a testament to the passion and history of Austrian football.