Mercedes-Benz Arena
The Mercedes-Benz Arena, previously called Neckarstadion and Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, is the home stadium of VFB Stuttgart. It has a capacity of 60,441 places.
The stadium got built between 1929 and 1933 and opened on the 26th of July 1933 with the German Gymnastics Championships. The stadium was initially called Adolf-Hitler-Kampfbahn, and could hold about 35,000 spectators.
Already a few years later the stadium got further expanded to about 70,000 places. After the war the name of the stadium got first changed into Century Stadium, and in 1949 to Neckarstadion. Further expansions in those years increased capacity to just under 100,000.
In 1959 the stadium hosted the European Cup final between Real Madrid and Stade de Reims (2-0). A few years later, in 1962, Atlético Madrid beat Fiorentina 3-0 in the replay of that year’s Cup Winner’s Cup final.
In the early 1970s the stadium got extensively renovated to prepare it for the 1974 World Cup. Works included the reconstruction of the main stand and cover for the opposite end. At the 1974 World Cup the stadium hosted three matches in the first group phase, and the match between Poland and Sweden (1-0) in the second group phase.
In 1988 the stadium hosted its second European Cup final. The match between PSV Eindhoven en Benfica was won by the first on penalties, after having drawn 0-0 in regular time. One month later the stadium was a playing venue during Euro 1988, at which it hosted one group match and the semi-final between the Soviet Union and Italy (2-0).
Further redevelopments in 1993 saw the majority of the standing places converted into seats, and a roof constructed that covered the complete stadium. At the same time the 56,000-stadium changed name to Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, prompted by the financing of the redevelopment by car manufacturer Daimler-Benz
Between 1999 and 2005 new upper tiers were constructed, and the stadium received further renovations for the 2006 World Cup. The Gottlieb-Daimer-Stadion hosted 6 matches at the World Cup: four group matches, the round of 16 match between England and Ecuador (1-0), and the match for third place between Germany and Portugal (3-1).
At that time the stadium still had athletics tracks, but in 2008 Stuttgart decided to convert the stadium into a proper football stadium. The pitch was lowered, two new stands built at the short ends, and the other stands extended closer to the pitch. The capacity increased to its current total, and at the same time the name of the stadium got changed to Mercedes-Benz Arena. Works were completed in the middle of 2011.
Getting there
The Mercedes-Benz Arena is located in the east of Stuttgart, on the east bank of the river Neckar, about 4.5 kilometres from Stuttgart’s city centre and main rail station.
From the motorways around Stuttgart signs with a stadium symbol will lead you, via the B10 and B14, to the stadium.
By public transport, take overground metro (S-Bahn) line S1 from the main rail station (Hbf). Take the train in the direction of Kirchheim and get off at stop Neckarpark. From there it’s a 5-minute walk to the stadium.
On matchdays, metro (Stadtbahn) line U11 can also bring you from the main rail station to the stadium (NeckarPark).
Address: Mercedesstraße 87, 70372 Stuttgart (Bad Cannstatt)
Tickets
Tickets for VFB Stuttgart games can be bought online, by phone +49 (0) 180 58325463, at the Fan-Center at the stadium, or at the VFB City-Shop at the Königstraße 23-25 in Stuttgart’s city centre. They can furthermore be purchased via the Easyticket sales points, or online via the Easyticket website.
Since the 2011 renovations, attendances have increased significantly to close to sell-out. Tickets will generally be available in pre-sale though.
VFB Stuttgart uses four pricing categories, though the most expensive category only applies to the Bayern match. A standing place for that match will cost €19.50 with seats ranging from €35.00 to €80.00.
A standing place for a category B match will cost €17.00 with prices for a seat ranging between €30.00 and €70.00, whereas a standing place for a category D match goes for €13.00 with seats costing between €20.00 and €52.00.
For more information email ticketservice@vfb-stuttgart.de.
Stadium tours
Stuttgart offers guided stadium tours, though requires a minimum of 25 participants. Individuals can contact fuehrungen@vfb-stuttgart.de to inquire if any groups have booked a tour that they can join.
The tour costs €8.00, and lasts about 90 minutes.
For more information email fuehrungen@vfb-stuttgart.de or call +49 (0) 711/55 007 198.
Relevant Internet links:
VFB.de – Official website of VFB Stuttgart.
Stuttgart-tourist.de – Official tourist website for the Stuttgart region
VVS.de – Stuttgart public transport information.
