Planet Pure Stadion

The club’s promotion in 2022 forced a decision. They needed to meet the standards of the Austrian Football Bundesliga, so the municipality and the state of Vorarlberg put money into a new structure. The capacity shrank from the original plan of 7,500 to 5,138 because of noise regulations and fire safety rules. It is a small, enclosed space where the crowd does not drift away. The main stand is full-length, covered in white, and the away end is tucked behind one of the goals. Players drill on the surface before the match, the grass striped green and yellow under the floodlights.

It is not a cathedral of sport. It is a functional box built for a town that loves its team. The new name, SUN MINIMEAL Arena, appears on the boards, though everyone still calls it by the old one. The pitch is natural grass with underfloor heating, a luxury for a town this size. When the wind comes off the river, it cuts through the stand, and the players have to adjust their long passes. It is a place where the game feels closer, where you can hear the manager shouting over the traffic on the road next door.