Europe’s largest indoor turf pitch opens in Premstätten
Friday 11th September 2026 on 08:45 in
Austria
Europe’s largest indoor artificial-turf football pitch has opened at the Schwarzl leisure centre in Premstätten, giving Styrian players a year-round place to train and compete, ORF reported.
The venue opened on Thursday in the former Davis Cup hall, which has also hosted figure-skating events and other activities. The full-size pitch uses FIFA-certified turf, according to Hall of Ball operator Martin Reiner.
“The pitch itself is a full-size football field. It could be in any outdoor stadium,” Reiner said.
No other indoor artificial-turf arena in Europe is larger, he said. The field can host matches up to Regionalliga level under the relevant regulations, including when outdoor games are cancelled because of flooding. Smaller clubs will also be able to use it for proper winter training.
The project was supported by the market town of Premstätten. Schwarzl leisure centre operator Klaus Leutgeb said the venue could host an international football tournament.
A return of top-flight footballers to indoor matches is also possible, according to Thomas Tebbich, managing director for commercial affairs at Sturm Graz. He said professional players no longer play on parquet courts, but the new facility could make indoor football worth considering again.
The Hall of Ball is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Football can be booked in 30-minute slots, with consecutive bookings allowed.