VILLACH IN MOTION: INVESTMENTS IN THE SPORTS CITY OF THE FUTURE

“NEW” STADTHALLE ARENA

Approximately 25 million euros are being jointly invested by the city, state, and federal government into the comprehensive redesign of Stadthalle Villach – home to local ice hockey team EC VSV and a multifunctional arena in the heart of the city. The first construction phase has already been completed: the changing rooms and sanitary facilities for EC VSV have been fully renovated. While the professional players are already using the new facilities on the ground floor, the youth teams benefit from modern areas in the basement.

With the official groundbreaking in June 2025, the construction of a second ice rink begins. This new hall will accommodate around 350 spectators – and up to 1,500 guests for concerts. The heart of the project is the new national training center for women’s ice hockey of the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation (ÖEHV), which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. Also planned are state-of-the-art academy spaces, a central sanitary area for both halls, and two additional changing rooms. The existing hall will also be further upgraded: the VIP area will undergo a comprehensive modernization to provide space for up to 300 people.

STADION LIND & ST. MARTIN SPORTS HALL

One of the largest sports infrastructure projects of 2025 is the complete renovation of the athletics facility at Stadion Lind. In summer, the synthetic surface of the 400-meter track will be renewed. In addition, all technical equipment – including the pole vault area, shot put ring, and discus/hammer throw circle – will be updated. The goal is to provide optimal training conditions, especially for young athletes in Villach.

At the same time, the sports hall in St. Martin – a key venue for ball sports, boxing, table tennis, and gymnastics – is being fully modernized. It plays a vital role in school and club sports in the western part of the city.

In total, the city of Villach is investing 1.6 million euros this year in these two renovation projects – a strong signal for promoting movement, health, and youth sports.

VILLACHER ALPEN ARENA

Located at the foot of Mount Dobratsch, the Alpen Arena has been one of Carinthia’s flagship sports facilities since it opened in 1995. More than 10,000 ski jumpers train here every year – including top athletes like Thomas Morgenstern, Martin Koch, and Daniel Tschofenig.

Now, after almost 30 years, the arena is undergoing a comprehensive modernization. By 2026, a state-of-the-art training and competition center for Nordic sports will be built. The aim is to provide ideal conditions for both young talents and international teams. Around 3 million euros are being invested in the project – funded by the federal government, the state, and the city.

Key measures were already implemented in 2024: the 90-meter jump was upgraded, landing mats, take-off table, irrigation system, and ceramic inrun track were renewed, and the concrete surface of the landing slope was widened. This year, the 60-, 30-, and 15-meter jumps will be renovated. In 2026, the warm-up area for the 90-meter hill is set to be expanded. This renovation not only secures the Alpen Arena’s sporting relevance but also its versatility: up to 18 other sports are practiced here – from cross-country skiing to ice climbing.