Volksparkstadion facts for kids
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| Former names | AOL Arena (2001–2007) HSH Nordbank Arena (2007–2010) Imtech Arena (2010–2015) |
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| Location | Sylvesterallee 7, Bahrenfeld 22525 Hamburg, Germany |
| Public transit |   Stellingen |
| Capacity | 57,000 (League Matches) 51,500 (International Matches) |
| Field size | 105 × 68 m |
| Surface | grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1951–1953 |
| Opened | 12 July 1953 |
| Renovated | 1998 |
| Construction cost | € 90–100 million (1998 renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Hamburger SV (1953–present) Germany national football team (selected matches) |
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The Volksparkstadion is a famous football stadium in Hamburg, Germany. It is the home ground for the football club Hamburger SV, often called HSV. The stadium can hold 57,000 fans for regular league games. For international matches, the capacity is 51,500 because some standing areas are changed to seats.
Contents
History of the Stadium
The current stadium is owned by HSV, but the club was not involved when the first stadium was built here. The first stadium on this spot was called Bahrenfelder Stadion. It opened on September 13, 1925. The first game was between FC Altona 93 and HSV, with HSV losing 2–3.
Building the Volksparkstadion
The stadium was rebuilt between 1951 and 1953. It was named Volksparkstadion, which means "The People's Park Stadium." This name came from its location near the Altona Volkspark. Many of the building materials came from the ruins of Eimsbüttel, a part of Hamburg that was damaged during World War II. The new stadium could hold up to 75,000 people. It was used for many different sports events in the city.
In 1963, HSV moved to the Volksparkstadion. This happened when they joined the new Bundesliga, Germany's top football league. The Volksparkstadion was bigger and more modern than their old stadium. HSV then became very successful, winning league titles in 1979, 1982, and 1983.
A New Stadium for a New Era
In May 1998, HSV decided to replace the old Volksparkstadion with a brand new one. This was done to help Germany prepare for the Football World Cup. Also, the old stadium was becoming too difficult to keep safe. The old stadium was taken down. The new one was rotated 90 degrees. This gave everyone a better view and made good use of sunlight. The new stadium cost about 90 to 100 million Euros.
The new stadium was opened on September 2, 2000. The first game was between Germany and Greece, with Germany winning 2–0. The new stadium removed the track and field areas. This brought the fans closer to the pitch. With the new stadium, HSV started having about 50,000 fans at each game. In 2004, a museum about HSV's history opened at the stadium.
The Volksparkstadion is a UEFA category 4 stadium. This means it can host big European finals, like the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League finals.
Changing Names
The stadium has had a few different names over the years because of sponsorship deals:
- AOL Arena (2001–2007): AOL bought the naming rights for 15.3 million Euros.
- HSH Nordbank Arena (2007–2010): HSH Nordbank bought the rights for 25 million Euros.
- Imtech Arena (2010–2015): Imtech bought the naming rights.
In June 2015, the stadium went back to its original name, Volksparkstadion. When the stadium had a sponsored name, it was called the Hamburg Arena for European matches. This is because UEFA rules do not allow sponsored names for their tournaments.
Major Tournaments Hosted
The Volksparkstadion has been a host stadium for several big international football tournaments.
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup was held in West Germany. The Volksparkstadion was one of the stadiums used. It hosted three games from Group A in the first round:
- East Germany vs. Australia (East Germany won 2–0)
- West Germany vs. Australia (West Germany won 3–0)
- West Germany vs. East Germany (East Germany won 1–0)
UEFA Euro 1988
The European Football Championship was held in West Germany. The Volksparkstadion hosted one game:
- A semi-final match where West Germany lost to the Netherlands 1–2.
2006 FIFA World Cup
The stadium was also a venue for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. During this tournament, it was known as FIFA World Cup Stadium Hamburg because of sponsorship rules.
Here are the games played at the stadium during the 2006 World Cup:
| Date | Time (CET) | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 June 2006 | 21:00 |  Argentina |
2–1 |  Ivory Coast |
Group C | 49,480 |
| 15 June 2006 | 15:00 |  Ecuador |
3–0 |  Costa Rica |
Group A | 50,000 |
| 19 June 2006 | 18:00 |  Saudi Arabia |
0–4 |  Ukraine |
Group H | 50,000 |
| 22 June 2006 | 16:00 |  Czech Republic |
0–2 |  Italy |
Group E | 50,000 |
| 30 June 2006 | 21:00 | Italy |
3–0 | Ukraine |
Quarterfinals | 50,000 |
2010 UEFA Europa League Final
The stadium hosted the final match of the 2010 UEFA Europa League. In this game, the Spanish team Atlético Madrid beat the English team Fulham 2–1.
Getting to the Stadium
The closest railway station to the stadium is Stellingen railway station. This station is on the S3 and S21 lines of the Hamburg S-Bahn. During football matches or other big events, there is a free bus shuttle service. This bus takes fans from Stellingen railway station and Othmarschen railway station directly to the stadium. There are also several large car parks near the stadium. The A7 highway is very close, and you can reach the stadium from the Hamburg-Volkspark exit.
Other Events at the Stadium
Besides football, the Volksparkstadion is also used for other big events.
Sporting Events
- On July 2, 2011, the stadium hosted a major heavyweight boxing match. Wladimir Klitschko fought David Haye and won by a unanimous decision. The stadium was completely full for this fight.
Concerts and Music Events
The stadium is a popular place for concerts by famous musicians.
- It hosted the German part of the Live Earth concert event on July 7, 2007. Artists like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Cat Stevens performed.
- Many other famous artists have performed here, including:
- Michael Jackson (1988, 1992)
- Tina Turner (1996, 2000)
- Depeche Mode (2009, 2013)
- Metallica (2014)
- AC/DC (2016)
- Coldplay (2016)
- Rihanna (2016)
- P!nk (2019)
- Harry Styles (2022)
- Beyoncé (2023)
- The Weeknd (2023)
- Taylor Swift (scheduled for 2024)
Images for kids
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The Volksparkstadion in 2010
See also
In Spanish: Volksparkstadion para niños
