About Germany Hamburg Football Stadium

The German city of Hamburg's football stadium has a storied history stretching back for decades. New construction and sponsorship have changed the face of the stadium several times, but the site itself has remained an important fixture in Hamburg's soccer landscape. Situated in the western reaches of the city, Hamburg's stadium has seen its fair share of important football matches over the years, playing host to several major competitions.

  1. Early History

    • Hamburg's current stadium stands on the same site of two predecessors. The Bahrenfelder Stadium was the first building erected here, opening in 1925. This stadium suffered significant damage in World War II, prompting the construction of a new venue between 1951 and 1953. This period saw the construction of the Volksparkstadion, or People's Park Stadium. The Volksparkstadion served as Hamburg's primary sports venue up until 1998, at which point the signs of aging and antiquity had become too obvious to ignore any longer.

    New Construction

    • Construction on a new stadium commenced in 1998 as Germany began preparations to host the 2006 World Cup. The Volksparkstadion was demolished, giving way to a new arena. Builders tweaked the layout to provide optimal sunlight and reduce the distance between the pitch and the stands. Construction finished in 2000, and the new stadium was inaugurated by hosting an international football match between Germany and Greece, which Germany won.

    Name Changes

    • After the Bahrenfelder Stadium and Volksparkstadion passed on, Hamburg's new stadium was in need of a fresh name. The AOL corporation bought the naming rights to the facility in 2001, titling it the AOL Arena. The building later underwent a temporary name change during the 2006 World Cup due to sponsorship contracts, assuming the name of Hamburg Arena for the duration of the tournament. AOL restored its title after the close of the event. In 2007, HSH Nordbank conducted a similar move, purchasing the naming rights and branding the stadium as the HSH Nordbank Arena. As of 2010, the facility is slated to undergo another name change, as the naming rights have been obtained by the Imtech Corp.

    Capacity and Attendance

    • Hamburg's football stadium has a capacity of about 57,000 viewers during professional club matches, according to UEFA. This capacity level is reduced to about 51,500 for international matches when the standing-room sections of the stadium are converted into seating areas.

    Major Football Tournaments Hosted

    • Hamburg's old Volksparkstadion was used as a venue for the 1974 World Cup as well as the 1988 UEFA European Championship. The newly constructed arena also hosted some games during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Most recently the stadium served as the site for the 2010 Europa League's final championship match between Fulham and Atletico Madrid.

    Home Team

    • The stadium operates as the regular home of the Hamburger SV professional football team. Hamburger SV holds the distinction of being the only team in the German Bundesliga that has never been relegated from first-division football.