All words and images by Guirec Munier
On the Ruins of Hanappi
On this summer Sunday in the Hütteldorf district of western Vienna, the Weststadion stands on the ruins of the Hanappi-Stadion, the former home of Austria’s most popular and successful club, Rapid Wien. While Viennese supporters and those of FC Blau-Weiß Linz share the same Biergarten without any animosity, Rapid Wien ultras gather in front of the entrances to Block West two hours before the Bundesliga season kicks off.
As with virtually every home game, Block West is sold out. Eight thousand people—mostly ultras—coexist and coordinate despite belonging to different groups. Owing to their seniority, the two Ultras Rapid capos set the tone. The first ultra group in the German-speaking world, Ultras Rapid are accompanied by the club’s two other main ultra groups: the Tornados and the Lords. One group initiates the chants, with the other two following from their respective perches in the stand.
Belonging to Block West
But you don’t need to enter the stand to see how deeply the ultras identify with Block West. In the passageways, murals created in honour of the ultra groups cover the concrete walls, while stickers adorn almost every door and surface.
The Rapid-Viertelstunde
As the minutes tick by, Block West roars again and again for its team, igniting numerous flares and unfurling a sea of flags. Then, at the start of the final fifteen minutes, led by Block West, the entire Weststadion rises to its feet and claps passionately for a full minute. This is the Rapid-Viertelstunde.
In the 75th minute of every match, fans honour this century-old tradition—a tribute to the fighting spirit of Rapid Wien, whose teams famously turned countless matches around in the final fifteen minutes during the 1920s. In a stadium in 2025, it is a rare sight: no one reaches for their smartphone to immortalise the moment. Here, they don’t take photos; they sing. Block West deliberately cultivates a touch of darkness.
After the Whistle
At the final whistle, following a match dominated by Rapid Wien, the 8,000 supporters—who had merged into one only moments earlier—gradually dispersed onto Gerhard-Hanappi-Platz.
All words and images by Guirec Munier
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