The value of the Austria stadium was assessed at 42.3 million euros, as the office of Sports Councillor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) informed the APA. After deducting the applicable construction grants, the redemption sum will amount to 39.4 million euros (excluding real estate transfer tax, note). The lease rent was also specified.

Wiener Austria Pays City of Vienna 1.4 Million Euros Annual Rent for Stadium

Accordingly, Austria must transfer 1.4 million euros annually to the city for the use of the stadium. Hacker informed the members of the state sports council about the current status on Monday. The project received broad approval in the committee, as reported to the APA afterwards. There were no opposing votes. The next steps are already set: The takeover of the stadium is to be decided in the Vienna City Council on April 23. In the course of the process, the existing building rights contract will be dissolved, replaced by a lease agreement, and the UEFA four-star stadium will be transferred to the ownership of the city of Vienna. According to Hacker, the operation of the Generali Arena will remain with FK Austria Wien AG, which will also continue to be responsible for the management of the facility. However, the city has a right of control here through MA 51 (Sport Vienna).

Football and American Football Games Planned in Austria Stadium

The multifunctional use of the facility will also be contractually fixed. This was developed with Austria in recent weeks, as it was said. Planned - in addition to the regular game operations of Austria - is, for example, the holding of ÖFB national team games, cup final matches, but also the holding of games of other sports such as American football, if needed. It should also be ensured that other Viennese football clubs can use it in the event of promotion to the Bundesliga. Amateur events of mass sports should also find a place there. "The departments of the city have done very good work in recent weeks. We have reached an agreement with Austria on the conditions and can now implement our announcements from December," Hacker emphasized in a statement sent to the APA: "The Austria stadium is one of the most important sports venues in the city. My goal was and is to secure this important infrastructure and to guarantee that it will benefit Viennese sports in the long term."

"Strict Rules" for Wiener Austria

The city's willingness to take over the stadium will be tied to "strict rules," the department head announced. This includes - as Hacker reaffirmed - by far the highest rent of an Austrian Bundesliga club. Harald Zagiczek, CFO of FK Austria Wien AG, expressed satisfaction and assured: "We will continue to manage the stadium, in coordination with the future owner, in the spirit of Austria Wien and the sports city of Vienna as the general operator." Revenues from additional events would remain with Austria. "With the measure of the sale, we are taking an important step towards the economic improvement of the club and have simultaneously secured the home ground for our fans and supporters in the long term," emphasized Zagiczek. Since the city has been the owner of the property since the stadium's existence, the unification with the ownership of the building is the best solution for both sides and represents a "win-win situation." According to the Hacker office, a total of eight out of eleven domestic Bundesliga stadiums are owned by the respective city after the redemption of the Favoriten Arena. It was also highlighted that it is not uncommon in international football for municipalities to take over stadiums from clubs, for example, when they are threatened in their existence.

(APA/Red)

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