City councilor for sports Peter Hacker (SPÖ) has set up a seven-person commission of experts to examine the ground below the lawn. The city hall announced on Friday.
“It should be checked whether, in view of the changing climatic conditions with longer dry periods, recurring heavy rain events and changing groundwater flows, the floor of the stadium is still up to the requirements of major sporting events such as football games. Should the commission come to the conclusion that the suitability is no longer complete and given in every weather event, then they will also submit suggestions for structural or technical improvements,” explained the city council.
In addition to the Vienna City Planning Director Bernhard Jarolim and experts from the Wiener Sportstätten Betriebsgesellschaft, other experts from the City of Vienna and external experts will also take part in the commission. The commission is active immediately and will prepare proposals by the autumn, it said.
A hole about 20 centimeters deep formed on the playing field in Vienna’s Prater on Monday after the match against Denmark. The Nations League game against Soccer-World Champion France takes place today, Friday, but there is still speculation about the future of the stadium as a venue. ÖFB Managing Director Bernhard Neuhold recently made it clear that in the future international matches could increasingly be switched to the federal states.
Source: Nachrichten
