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19. 08. 10. - 12:00

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19. 08. 10. - 12:00

Hans off Wankdorf Stadium

Stadium bosses in Switzerland have been forced to change their name from Wankdorf because red-faced stars are too embarrassed to play there.

Owners have confirmed they are now officially changing the name of the venue  - in Bern - to Stade de Suisse after revealing that their concert dates have dried up for the rest of the year.

The move has been met with protest by locals who say owners are simply pandering to sniggering British and American critics.

"The name just isn't funny in German but we have to think a bit more internationally these days and accept that any English-speaker finds it hilarious," explained one official.

When Robbie Williams played the venue in front of 40,000 fans he asked the crowd: "Is this place really called ‘Wankdorf’? What kind of name is that?"

So far this year the venue had attracted just three international gigs from stars Pink, AC/DC and British rockers Muse.

The name is taken from a neighbourhood in Bern and comes from the word 'Wank' meaning to sway or rock from side to side and 'Dorf' meaning village.

It joins a list of towns in German speaking Europe which have had problems with their embarrassing names - including F***cking in Austria and Wank in Germany.

Meanwhile, sentimental fans of Wankdorf’s original name have put up a fan website called "remember Wankdorf" at http://www.remember-wankdorf.ch.vu/.

Austrian Times

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