Niedersachsenstadion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena

Former names	Niedersachsenstadion (1954–2002) AWD-Arena (2002–2013) HDI-Arena (2013–2022)
Location	Hanover, Germany
Operator	Hannover 96 Arena GmbH & Co. KG
Capacity	49,000
Surface	Grass
Construction
Opened	26 September 1954
Construction cost	€ 82.8 million (for redevelopment)
Architect	Schulitz & Partner Architects
Tenants
Hannover 96 (1959–present) TSV Havelse (2021–2022) VfB Oldenburg (alternate venue, 2022–present) Germany national football team (selected matches)
Website
https://www.heinzvonheiden-arena.de/

The Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena is a famous football stadium located in Hanover, Germany. It is the home ground for the Hannover 96 football team.

This stadium first opened its doors in 1954. It was originally known as the Niedersachsenstadion, which means "Lower Saxony Stadium." Over the years, it has been updated and rebuilt several times. Today, it has 49,000 covered seats for fans.

The stadium has had different names because of sponsorship deals. From 2002 to 2013, it was called the AWD-Arena. Then, from 2013 to 2022, it was known as the HDI-Arena. Since 2022, its official name has been the Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena.

History of the Stadium

Building the Original Stadium

The stadium was built between 1952 and 1954. It could hold 86,000 people when it first opened. A lot of the materials used to build its foundations came from the rubble of houses in Hanover that were destroyed during World War II. The stadium officially opened on September 26, 1954.

Teams and Important Matches

Hannover 96 moved to the stadium permanently in 1959. Other local teams, like Arminia Hannover and TSV Havelse, have also played matches there. The stadium has hosted many important football games. These include international matches and several finals for German football championships and cups.

Stadium Name Changes Over Time

The stadium's name has changed a few times due to companies sponsoring it. From 2002 to 2013, it was called the AWD-Arena. Then, from 2013 to 2022, it was known as the HDI-Arena. Since 2022, a construction company called Heinz von Heiden has held the naming rights. This is why it is now called the Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena.

Special Events and Other Teams

In November 2015, a friendly match between Germany and the Netherlands was postponed. This happened just two hours before it was supposed to start due to safety concerns.

Sometimes, other football clubs use the stadium if their own home grounds are not ready. For example, TSV Havelse played here in 2021–2022. VfB Oldenburg also used it for some matches in 2022–2023. This was because their stadium needed floodlights and a heated pitch.

International Football Tournaments

The Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena has been a host for three major international football tournaments.

1974 FIFA World Cup Matches

The stadium was one of the places chosen for the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. For this event, the number of seats increased to 38,000. This meant the total capacity became 60,400. The upper part of the west grandstand also got a roof.

Here are the games played at the stadium during the 1974 World Cup:

Date	Team	Result	Team	Round	Attendance
15 June 1974	Uruguay	0–2	Netherlands	Group 3	53,000
19 June 1974	Uruguay	1–1	Bulgaria	Group 3	12,000
26 June 1974	Brazil	1–0	East Germany	Group A (2nd round)	58,463
30 June 1974	Argentina	1–2	Brazil	Group A (2nd round)	38,000

1988 European Championship Games

When Germany hosted the UEFA Euro 1988, the stadium was again a venue. By this time, 8,000 standing spots were changed into seats. This made the stadium's capacity 55,000. It hosted two group matches during the tournament.

Here are the games played at the stadium during Euro 1988:

Date	Team	Result	Team	Round	Attendance
11 June 1988	Denmark	2–3	Spain	Group A	60,366
15 June 1988	Republic of Ireland	1–1	Soviet Union	Group B	38,308

2006 FIFA World Cup Matches

The stadium was also a venue for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. During this World Cup, it was officially called "FIFA World Cup Stadium Hanover." This was due to FIFA's sponsorship rules. The stadium's standing areas were converted into seats for the tournament. This reduced the capacity to 43,000. After the World Cup, the standing areas were brought back.

Here are the games played at the stadium during the 2006 World Cup:

Date	Team	Result	Team	Round	Attendance
12 June 2006	Italy	2–0	Ghana	Group E	43,000
16 June 2006	Mexico	0–0	Angola	Group D	43,000
20 June 2006	Costa Rica	1–2	Poland	Group A	43,000
23 June 2006	Switzerland	2–0	South Korea	Group G	43,000
27 June 2006	Spain	1–3	France	Round of 16	43,000

Modern Updates and Changes

Big Changes for a New Look

The stadium has changed a lot over the years. The biggest changes happened between 2003 and 2004. These updates cost €65 million and were designed by Schulitz & Partner Architects.

For many years, there was talk about building a new stadium. But in the end, the decision was made to rebuild and improve the existing one. When Germany was chosen to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the big renovation project finally began.

What Was Rebuilt

During 2003–2004, most of the stadium was rebuilt. This reduced the maximum capacity to 49,951, including about 8,000 standing spots. Before 2003, the stadium had tall floodlight masts and facilities for track and field events. About 60% of it was open to the sky.

The new design completely changed the stadium into a modern football arena. About 70% of the old building was removed. The roof and parts of the west grandstand were taken down. The north, south, and east grandstands were also demolished.

New Features and Technology

Instead of old scoreboards, the arena got two modern video screens. The old floodlight masts were replaced with 160 new lights built into the roof. These lights provide a very bright light for games.

The pitch (the playing field) was moved closer to the fans. It now has a special drainage system and a heating system underneath. This helps the grass stay healthy. The track and field areas were removed. The stands behind the goals were designed to be steeper on one side, making the stadium look a bit unique.

The new inner roof is made of a special material called ETFE. This material lets sunlight through, which helps the grass grow naturally. It also protects all the fans from bad weather. This design helps avoid having to replace the grass often.

The stadium also added new areas for businesses and the press. There are about 1,250 business seats and 29 VIP boxes for special guests.

First Match After Renovation

The renovation work finished earlier than planned in December 2004. The first football match played in the newly rebuilt stadium was on January 23, 2005. Hannover 96 played against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and lost 3–0.

In June 2008, the stadium hosted the 2008 Hannover Sevens, which is a European rugby championship.

On November 15, 2009, the stadium was full for the funeral of Robert Enke. He was a 32-year-old goalkeeper for Hannover 96.

The stadium was also one of the few real stadiums named in the video game FIFA 12, which came out in 2011.

Other Uses of the Stadium

Beyond Football

Besides football, the stadium has been used for many other events. It has hosted German athletics championships, gymnastics festivals, and field handball finals. It has also been a venue for rugby and American football games.

Concerts and Music Events

Since The Rolling Stones performed here in 1982, the stadium has become a popular place for outdoor concerts in Northern Germany. After the big renovation in 2003–2004, the tradition of hosting concerts continued. The Rolling Stones played in the new arena in 2006.

Many other famous artists have performed at the stadium:

• Madonna performed in August 2006 for 40,000 people.
• Michael Jackson had a concert in 1988.
• Bon Jovi played here in 1996.
• Status Quo performed in 2006.
• U2 played in 2010 to a crowd of 56,494.
• Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have played here, including a concert in May 2013 and another in July 2024.
• Robbie Williams has also performed here several times, including in July 2013 and July 2017. He is scheduled to perform again in June 2025.
• Linkin Park is scheduled to perform in June 2025.
• Scorpions are scheduled for July 2025.
• Post Malone is scheduled for September 2025.

Here are some artists who have had more than two concerts at the venue: