Credit Suisse Arena, a planned new football stadium in the Swiss city of Zürich, is set for further delays as two voting rights appeals relating to the project are still pending.
The 18,000-seat stadium will serve as the home of Swiss Super League clubs FC Zürich and Grasshoppers, and it had been hoped that the venue would be open in time for the start of the 2022-23 season.
However, the stadium is facing delays of two to four years, according to Swiss news portal Nau.ch. The city council in Zürich has ruled that the design plan for the stadium cannot be approved as there are voting rights appeals still pending with the Federal Supreme Court.
Nau.ch reported that the length of the delay will depend on whether all judicial authorities lodge appeals against the design plan and the building application for the stadium. The city council said that it will look to advance the planning process “as quickly as possible”.
In September 2020, Zürich residents once again pledged their support for the Credit Suisse Arena project. The proposal was backed by almost 60% of residents who participated in the vote, which marked an increase on the previous vote in 2018.
All city districts also voted in favour of the project, including Höngg, which was against the plans in 2018.
The new stadium will be built on the site of the former Hardturm ground, which was demolished in 2007. Credit Suisse, the banking and financial services group, acquired naming rights to the venue in July 2019.
Credit Suisse Arena is also scheduled to host some Swiss national team matches, other internationals and women’s fixtures.
FC Zürich and Grasshoppers currently share the 31,000-capacity Letzigrund stadium, which is primarily an athletics facility. It is hoped the new stadium will provide a more intimate experience for supporters of the two clubs.
Image: Credit Suisse
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