Nightrace Schladming
Location
Schladming, Austria
Year
1997 – 2026
Products
Grandstands, stadiums and arenas, Event structures
When thousands of winter sports fans gather at the finish line on the Planai slope each year, Schladming becomes the setting for one of the most impressive events in alpine skiing. The "Nightrace Schladming" demands far more than just traditional grandstand solutions: it requires a highly complex, temporary infrastructure that functions under extreme conditions while ensuring maximum visibility, safety, and media coverage. Since 1997, NUSSLI has been responsible for erecting several grandstand facilities, platforms, and special structures—including the Gold Card, Blue Card, and Yellow Card grandstands with a total of nearly 10,000 standing spaces, as well as numerous technical infrastructure elements for media, timekeeping, and TV production.
Grandstands solutions for thousands of fans
The project focused on the extensive spectator facilities along the finish area. For the Nightrace, NUSSLI constructed the Gold Card grandstand with 1,856 standing-room-only seats, the Blue Card grandstand with 4,735 standing-room-only seats, and the Yellow Card grandstand with an additional 3,312 standing-room-only seats. The structures not only had to accommodate enormous crowds but also ensure unobstructed views of the finish line.
The Blue Card stand, in particular, presented the team with unique challenges: severely limited space, numerous structural obstructions, and winding access points to the seating areas required precise planning of all installation processes. Despite these complex conditions, a high-performance spectator infrastructure was created that gives the event its distinctive stadium atmosphere.
Martin Huber
Nikoopetnikphoto and OK The Nightrace
Infrastructure for TV and Broadcasting
In addition to the grandstands, NUSSLI constructed numerous technical event structures for media partners, race organizers, and broadcasters. These included a platform for the commentary booths, which was erected at the front of the Planai roof to ensure an optimal view of the finish area. Additionally, a platform for the Longines timing display, several camera towers, camera platforms, and a platform for crane cameras were constructed. Lighting towers and extensive video support structures were also installed to provide the technical infrastructure for the international TV broadcast.
Logistics Amid Snow, High Altitude, and Time Pressure
A key challenge lies in the alpine terrain of the Planai. Limited space, areas that are difficult to access, and weather-dependent conditions require flexible construction processes and precise coordination among all trades. In particular, transporting materials to the slopes or to higher-altitude assembly areas demands a well-thought-out logistics solution, sometimes involving the use of special transport vehicles such as helicopters.
In addition, there are complex installation tasks in the immediate vicinity of existing buildings and infrastructure. Setting up platforms, camera positions, or video support systems on rooftops and in confined spaces requires the utmost precision and an experienced project team. At the same time, all structures must meet the high standards of international TV productions, safety regulations, and visitor traffic.
Martin Huber
International expertise in winter sports
The Nightrace Schladming is just one of the many winter sports projects that NUSSLI has successfully completed over the past decades. With extensive experience in temporary event construction, the company supports international Ski World Cup events and winter sports events at renowned venues such as the Lauberhorn Race, the races in Kitzbühel or the World Cup in Adelboden.
Thanks to its many years of experience in delivering a wide variety of winter sports projects, NUSSLI has developed exceptionally broad expertise in the field of temporary sports infrastructure. This expertise enables the company to develop customized solutions for grandstands, platforms, camera positions, and temporary event areas, and to implement them efficiently even under the most challenging conditions.
