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 |
| Coordinates | 53°35′14″N 9°53′55″E / 53.58722°N 9.89861°E |
| 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, 2022–present |
| Construction cost | € 90–100 million (1998 renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Hamburger SV (1953–present) Shakhtar Donetsk (2023–2024) Dynamo Kyiv (2024–2025) Germany national football team (selected matches) |
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The Volksparkstadion (say it like: FOHLK-spark-SHTAH-dee-on) is a famous football stadium in Hamburg, Germany. It can hold up to 57,000 fans, making it one of the biggest stadiums in Germany. Since 1953, it has been the home field for the Bundesliga team Hamburger SV, often called HSV.
This stadium has also hosted important international games. For example, the Ukrainian club FC Shakhtar Donetsk played their European matches here in 2023-2024. This was because they could not play in their home country. The stadium has also welcomed the Germany national football team for some of their games. It was a host stadium for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024.
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History of the Stadium
The story of the Volksparkstadion began long before HSV moved in. The first stadium on this spot was called Bahrenfelder Stadion. It opened on September 13, 1925. The very first game was between FC Altona 93 and HSV. HSV lost that match 2–3 in front of 25,000 people.
Building the Volksparkstadion
The stadium was completely rebuilt between 1951 and 1953. It reopened on July 12, 1953, with a new name: Volksparkstadion. This name means "The People's Park Stadium," because it is located in 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 was much larger, able to hold up to 75,000 spectators.
In 1963, HSV joined the new top German football league, the Bundesliga. They moved to the Volksparkstadion because it was bigger and more modern than their old field. HSV became very successful in the Bundesliga, winning titles in 1979, 1982, and 1983.
A Modern Makeover
In May 1996, HSV decided to build a brand new stadium. The old one was getting old and it was hard to keep up with modern safety rules. Also, Germany was preparing to host the FIFA World Cup. The old stadium was taken down, and the new one was built facing a different direction. This change made sure everyone had a great view and used the sunlight better.
The new stadium cost about €90-100 million. It is used for both football games and concerts. For club matches, it can hold 57,000 people. For international games, the standing areas are changed to seats, reducing the capacity to 51,500. The most people ever at a game was 57,000, when HSV beat Bayern Munich 1–0 on January 30, 2009.
The new stadium opened on September 2, 2000, with a match between Germany and Greece. Germany won 2–0. With this new stadium, HSV has often had around 50,000 fans at their games. In 2004, a museum about HSV's history opened at the stadium.
Stadium Status and Naming
The Volksparkstadion is a UEFA category 4 stadium. This is the highest rating a stadium can get from UEFA. It means it can host major finals, like the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League finals.
For a while, a large clock in the stadium showed how long HSV had continuously played in the Bundesliga. After HSV was relegated to a lower league, the clock was changed to show the time since the club was founded. Later, in 2019, the clock was removed and replaced with the stadium's coordinates.
The stadium's name has changed a few times because companies bought the naming rights.
- From 2001 to 2007, it was called the AOL Arena.
- From 2007 to 2010, it was the HSH Nordbank Arena.
- From 2010 to 2015, it was known as the Imtech Arena.
After Imtech's sponsorship ended 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 because of UEFA rules.
In 2023-2024, the Volksparkstadion became the home stadium for Ukrainian club FC Shakhtar Donetsk. They could not play in their own country due to the ongoing conflict. For the 2024-2025 season, another Ukrainian club, Dynamo Kyiv, will also use the stadium for their European games.
Big Tournaments Hosted
The Volksparkstadion has been chosen to host many important football tournaments.
1974 FIFA World Cup Matches
When West Germany hosted the 1974 FIFA World Cup, the Volksparkstadion was one of the venues. It hosted all the Group A games that did not involve Chile.
| Date | Time (CET) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 June 1974 | 19:30 |  East Germany |
2–0 |  Australia |
Group 1 | 17,000 |
| 18 June 1974 | 16:00 | Australia |
0–3 |  West Germany |
53,000 | |
| 22 June 1974 | 19:30 | East Germany |
1–0 | West Germany |
60,200 |
UEFA Euro 1988 Match
The European Football Championship was held in West Germany. The Volksparkstadion hosted one semi-final match. The home team, West Germany, lost to the Netherlands 1–2.
2006 FIFA World Cup Games
The stadium was also a venue for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. During this tournament, it was called "FIFA World Cup Stadium Hamburg" because of sponsorship rules.
| Date | Time (CET) | Team #1 | Result | 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 exciting final of the 2010 UEFA Europa League. In this match, the Spanish team Atlético Madrid beat the English club Fulham 2–1.
UEFA Euro 2024 Games
The Volksparkstadion was a key venue for UEFA Euro 2024. It hosted five matches, including four group stage games and one quarter-final.
| Date | Time (CEST) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Spectators |
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| 16 June 2024 |
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 Poland |
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 Netherlands |
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48,117 |
| 19 June 2024 |
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 Croatia |
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 Albania |
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46,784 |
| 22 June 2024 |
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 Georgia |
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Czech Republic |
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46,524 |
| 26 June 2024 |
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Czech Republic |
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 Turkey |
47,683 | |
| 5 July 2024 |
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 Portugal |
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 France |
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47,789 |
Getting to the Stadium
The easiest way to reach the Volksparkstadion is by public transport. The closest railway station is Stellingen. This station is on the S3 and S5 lines of the Hamburg S-Bahn. During football matches and other big events, free bus shuttles run from Stellingen station and Othmarschen station directly to the stadium. There are also large car parks nearby, and the A7 highway is very close.
Other Events at the Stadium
Besides football, the Volksparkstadion hosts many other exciting events.
Sporting Events
On July 2, 2011, the stadium held a big heavyweight boxing match. Wladimir Klitschko fought David Haye to unify their titles. Klitschko won, and the stadium was completely full of fans.
Concerts and Music Festivals
The Volksparkstadion is a popular spot for concerts by famous musicians.
- On July 7, 2007, it hosted the German part of the worldwide Live Earth concert. Artists like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Cat Stevens performed.
- Michael Jackson performed here in 1988 and 1992.
- Tina Turner had concerts in 1996 and 2000.
- Depeche Mode played in 2009 and 2013.
- Metallica rocked the stadium in 2014 and again in 2023.
- AC/DC performed in 2016.
- Coldplay brought their "A Head Full of Dreams Tour" in 2016.
- Rihanna performed in 2016.
- P!nk had her "Beautiful Trauma World Tour" here in 2019.
- Harry Styles visited with his "Love On Tour" in 2022.
- Beyoncé performed in 2023 for her "Renaissance World Tour".
- The Weeknd also performed in 2023 as part of his "After Hours til Dawn Tour".
- Taylor Swift performed two shows in July 2024 as part of her "The Eras Tour".
- Linkin Park is scheduled to perform two shows in July 2026.
Panorama
See also
In Spanish: Volksparkstadion para niños
