Germany is set to host the 2024 UEFA European Championship, featuring ten modern Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 stadiums that will display the continent's summer football event. Footballgroundmap.com is here to introduce the arenas and their impressive characteristics.
The Home Of: Hertha Berlin
Seating: 74,475
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 6 games, including the final
Berlin has been criticised for not fully supporting its football club, but filling the 74,000-plus seat Olympiastadion would be a challenge for almost any team.
The stadium, built for the 1936 Olympics, has undergone renovations over the years. In the 1990s, there were calls to demolish it as it represented a past Berliners wanted to move on from.
However, it was preserved due to the 2006 World Cup, and €45 million was invested to update the venue. It's an impressive stadium and well worth experiencing a football match there at least once. This design concept transcended borders and inspired the blueprint for the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The Home Of: Bayern Munich
Seating: 75,000
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 6 matches - tournament opener and a semi-final
While their supporters have grown weary of consistently celebrating the team, the 75,000-capacity stadium is among the world's finest - Bayern Munich is one of the most successful football clubs globally and to no surprise, is currently leading the Bundesliga once more. They've also found recent success in the 2023/24 Champions League versus Manchester United. As fans of the Red Devils discovered top betting options for UK punters, they couldn't overcome the German outfit with a thrilling 4-3 scoreline.
The design, although often humorously likened to a pillow or rubber raft, was pioneering when it first opened in 2005. The inflatable panels illuminate in red for Bayern Munich matches, blue for TSV 1860 Munich, and white for neutral and international games.
The Home Of: Borussia Dortmund
Seating: 81,365
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 6 matches, including a semi-final
The Westfalenstadion, also called Signal Iduna Park, stands in Dortmund as the home of Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. Opened in 1974, the stadium has been renovated multiple times and is one of Europe's most remarkable football venues.
Boasting 81,365 seats, the Westfalenstadion is Germany's largest football stadium. Renowned for its "Yellow Wall," a standing-only area accommodating up to 25,000 fans, it is an iconic stadium with a fervent fan base and a storied past.
The Home Of: Cologne
Seating: 50,000
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 5 games
Cologne, a city with a long history, is located on the River Rhine and has over one million residents. It is also where you'll find Germany's most popular attraction, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Cologne Stadium, home to 1. FC Koln was rebuilt to host games during the 2006 World Cup. Since 2010, it has been the main location for Germany's Women's Cup final, as well as events such as American football, ice hockey, and music concerts.
The Home Of: Eintracht Frankfurt
Seating: 51,500
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 5 games
Currently named Deutsche Bank Park for sponsorship, Eintracht Frankfurt plays football in a massive stadium. While some consider it somewhat outdated compared to newer, renovated stadiums, its 51,500 capacity still makes it a spectacle.
The stadium is among the ten largest in Germany and hosted the 2011 Women's World Cup final, consistently drawing passionate support for Frankfurt. Additionally, it boasts a retractable roof, setting it apart from most stadiums.
The Home Of: Hamburg
Seating: 57,000
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 5 games
The Volksparkstadion was a football arena with a running track, but it was converted into a dedicated football stadium in 2000. Interestingly, the stadium continued to host games during the transformation process. Upon completion, it emerged as one of Germany's most modern stadiums.
The stadium is home to Hamburg and has hosted games from previous World Cups held in Germany. Additionally, it was a venue for Euro '88 and the final of the Europa League between Fulham and Atletico Madrid in 2010. This time around, the Volksparkstadion will host five games and can accommodate up to 57,000 spectators.
The Home Of: Schalke
Seating: 62,271
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 4 games
Schalke, a seven-time German champion, plays at Arena Auf Schalke in Gelsenkirchen, which is also a host venue for Euro 2024. The stadium, which opened in 2001, now hosts Bundesliga 2 matches following the club's relegation from the top-tier German football last season.
With a seating capacity of 62,271, the stadium has hosted several high-profile international and club matches. In 2004, the Champions League final saw Monaco and Porto face-off, with the Portuguese side winning 3-0 under the management of Jose Mourinho.
The stadium was also the venue for the 2006 World Cup quarter-final, where England suffered a painful defeat in a penalty shootout against Portugal following a 0-0 draw.
The Home Of: RB Leipzig
Seating: 47,069
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 4 games
Communist and classical influences converge in this lively city in East Germany, once the residence of Bach and the infamous Stasi. The local team, RB Leipzig, has risen in prominence (if not in popularity) since hosting five matches during the 2006 World Cup, and their stadium stands out as one of the most visually striking in the tournament.
Anyone situated in Berlin should consider a day trip to Leipzig or the nearby Dresden, where there's an abundance of culture to balance out the inevitable indulgence in beer drinking.
The Home Of: VfB Stuttgart
Seating: 60,449
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 5 games
Stuttgart is a blend of traditionalism and ambition, but the city has turned these stereotypes into a source of pride. The locals take pride in their ability to do almost anything except speaking without their distinctive dialect.
Italian fans added a southern charm to the Neckarstadion during the 1974 World Cup and the 1988 Euros. In 2006, the stadium hosted the third-place match between Germany and Portugal, which Germany won 3-1. And when VfB plays in Cannstatt, the stadium regularly draws over 50,000 fans.
The Home Of: Fortuna Dusseldorf
Seating: 54,600
Scheduled Euro 2024 Fixtures: 5 games
The Merkur Spiel Arena concluded it's construction in 2004, replacing the old Rheinstadion. Dusseldorf had aspired to utilise the arena as a venue for the World Cup in 2006, but their bid was rejected.
The money spent on this arena, including infrastructure outside the ground, totalled over £200 million. It was previously known as the LTU Arena. However, a newly formed partnership with Esprit in 2009 resulted in it being renamed ESPRIT Arena.
In 2018, the stadium was renamed for a second time after another brand deal to Merkur Spiel Arena. As of 2019, the arena has also hosted the home fixtures of KFC Uerdingen while their home ground is under renovation.
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