Trolli ARENA

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Key facts

Club: SpVgg Greuther Fürth | Opening: 1910 | Capacity: 18,000 (8,500 standing)

History and description

The Trolli ARENA, then still called Sportplatz Ronhof, was built in the early 20th century. Greuther Fürth had been formed in 1906, but already one year later decided that they needed a proper stadium.

Sportplatz Ronhof officially opened on the 11th of September 1910 with a match between Greuther Fürth and Karlsruher FV. It could hold just over 10,000 spectators at that time.

The stadium got quickly expanded after the First World War and at some point even counted as the largest in the country. Further enlargements in the late 1920 increased capacity to almost 30,000 places.

The wooden main stand got burned down in an air raid during the Second World War and a new stand got built in its place in 1951. The stadium recorded its highest attendance in 1952 when 32,000 people visited the derby between Fürth and Nürnberg.

The dwindling successes of the club and financial problems in the 1970s and 1980s meant that few further changes were made until the 1990s.

After moderate successes had returned in the mid-1990s, Fürth presented major redevelopment plans for the then rather dilapidated stadium. Two new stands were built and in 1997 the renovated stadium opened with the new name Playmobil Stadion.

Works did not stop though, and in 1999 a new South Stand opened. In the same year the first floodlights were installed. Further improvements were made in the following decade, but the main stand of 1951 remained.

The stadium got renamed Trolli ARENA in 2010 as the result of a new sponsorship deal. In March 2012, the club presented plans to move to a new stadium, which it hopes to occupy from the start of the 2014/15 season.

When the club promoted to the Bundesliga in 2012, it decided that better facilities could not wait until 2014. It tore down the uncovered South Stand and replaced it with a new covered stand, hereby increasing capacity from a previous 15,200 to the current 18,000.

Getting there

The Trolli ARENA is located in the north of the city of Fürth, about 1.5 kilometres from Fürth’s old town and almost a kilometre further from the railway station. The walk from the old town takes about 20 minutes and that from the railway station about 10 minutes more.

From the main railway station (Hauptbahnhof) or Rathaus, the stadium can be reached with bus 173, 174, or 177. Get off at stop Friedhof, from where it is a small walk to the stadium.

When a large crowd is expected, special shuttle buses run between the railway station and stadium.

The Trolli ARENA lies close to the A73 motorway, which runs from Nürnberg city centre in northern direction. Take exit Poppenreuth and follow the signs to the stadium.

Address: Laubenweg 60, 90765 Fürth

Tickets

Tickets for SpVgg Greuther Fürth can be bough online, by phone +49 (0) 1803 019030, at the Fan Shop at the stadium, or at one of the other pre-sale points (e.g. one at the Kohlenmarkt 4 in the old town).

If tickets remain available, these can also be bought on the gates on the day of the match. While Greuther Fürther rarely sold out in the 2. Bundesliga, they are expected to do so regularly in the Bundesliga.

Greuther Fürth have divided their home matches into three pricing categories. Tickets for regular matches, the cheapest, range in price from €22.00 for a seat at the uncovered makeshift stand in front of the main stand to €35.00 for the central seats at the long sides. Standing costs €13.00. Tickets for category 1 matches, the most expensive, range in price from €28.00 to €41.00. Standing costs €19.00.

Photos

Relevant Internet links

Greuther-fuerth.com – Official website of SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
Fuerth.de – Fürth tourist information.
Vgn.de – Fürth public transport information.