Deutsche Bank Park
Waldstadion
Former names
  • Waldstadion (1925–2005)
  • Neues Waldstadion (2005–2006)
  • FIFA World Cup Stadium Frankfurt (2006)
  • FIFA Women's World Cup Stadium Frankfurt (2011)
  • Commerzbank-Arena (2005–2020)
AddressMörfelder Landstraße 362
LocationFrankfurt, Germany
Coordinates50°04′05″N 8°38′45″E / 50.068056°N 8.645806°E / 50.068056; 8.645806
Public transit
OwnerWaldstadion Frankfurt Gesellschaft für Projektentwicklung
OperatorEintracht Frankfurt Stadion GmbH
Executive suites81
CapacityAssociation football: 58,000 (20,000 standing for league matches)
53,800 (International matches)
American football: 48,000
Concert: 44,000–65,000[1]
Field size105 by 68 metres (344.5 ft × 223.1 ft)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1921
Built1921–1925
Opened21 May 1925 (1925-05-21)
Renovated1937, 1953, 1974, 2005
Construction cost€ 150 million[2]
Architect
Tenants
Eintracht Frankfurt (1925–present)
Germany national football team (selected matches)
Frankfurt Galaxy (1991–2007)
Website
www.deutschebankpark.de
The old Waldstadion prior to the latest reconstruction
Stadium from the air (2017)

The Waldstadion (German pronunciation: [ˈvalt.ʃtaːdi̯ɔn] ⓘ, Forest Stadium), currently known as Deutsche Bank Park for sponsorship purposes, is a retractable roof sports stadium in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. The home stadium of the football club Eintracht Frankfurt, it was opened in 1925. The stadium has been upgraded several times since then; the most recent remodelling was its redevelopment as a football-only stadium in preparation for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup. With a capacity of 58,000 spectators for league matches, it is the seventh largest football stadium in Germany. The stadium was one of the nine venues of 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, and hosted four matches including the final. It will also host five matches of the UEFA Euro 2024.

The sports complex, which is owned by the city of Frankfurt, includes the actual stadium and other sports facilities, including a swimming pool, a tennis complex, a beach volleyball court and a winter sports hall. The arena has its own railway station, Frankfurt Stadion, on the national rail network.

In 2023, it hosted two regular season National Football League (NFL) American football games as part of the NFL Germany Games.[5]

History

First stadium

The original stadium was opened on 21 May 1925, after four years of construction, its total cost having been 3.7 million marks (equivalent to €14 million today). The site of a former military shooting range was chosen as the location of the sports park, which also included a fairground and integrated cycling and swimming stadium was designed. The stadium had a capacity of 35,000 spectators. The grandstands consisted mainly of earthworks, including the former bullet trap for the south grandstand. Only the grandstand on the north side was made of reinforced concrete and had a facade modeled on an ancient Greek theater.

The Waldstadion's first major national event was the final of the German football championship on June 7, 1925. 1. FC Nürnberg defeated local club FSV Frankfurt 1:0. Between 24 and 28 July 1925, the Waldstadion hosted the 1925 Workers' Summer Olympiad.[6] The football final between Germany and Finland was played in front of a crowd of 40,000 spectators.[7] In 1937, the spectator capacity through expansion of the back straight was increased to 55,000.

The first modification and the introduction of the Bundesliga

The first major changes to the stadium were made following a game between Eintracht Frankfurt and 1. FC Nürnberg in May 1953. Almost 70,000 tickets were sold for a stadium envisioned for only 55,000 spectators, and 200 fans were injured as thousands tried to force entry.

The renovated and enlarged Waldstadion was reopened on 14 May 1955 after 19 months of construction work. The stadium once more hosted national team matches as well as some important games for Eintracht Frankfurt, who reached the final round of the German National Championships in 1959. During the run to the final, 81,000 watched Eintracht beat FK Pirmasens – an attendance record that still stands.

In December 1960, an ice rink was opened within the oval of the velodrome. Here, the ice hockey team of Eintracht Frankfurt played their home games until 1981. In 1960 the stadium was given floodlights.

The first Bundesliga game in the Waldstadion took place on 24 August 1963 – a 1–1 draw with 1. FC Kaiserslautern on the first day of the new German national league.

The stadium hosted the World Championships in track cycling in 1966 and the heavyweight boxing championship between Muhammad Ali and Karl Mildenberger on 10 September 1966, won by Ali with a knockout in the 12th round in front of 22,000 spectators.

Second reconstruction

The second major renovation of the Waldstadion was needed for the 1974 FIFA World Cup. From May 1972 to January 1974, the stadium was rebuilt virtually from scratch to meet the comfort and safety requirements of the World Cup venues. The opening ceremony of the 1974 World Cup was held at the Waldstadion.

In 1978, improved drainage and undersoil heating were installed.

The first final of the newly introduced Women's European Cup was held at the stadium in May 2002, and the home team of 1. FFC Frankfurt beat Swedish side Umeå IK 2–0 to lift the trophy.

Current stadium

Current usage

Interior view during a Bundesliga match

The new Waldstadion is primarily designed as a football stadium, but can be used for other turf sports like American football and major events. The grandstand offers rooms that are for meetings, conventions and other events in external markets.

The renovated stadium was officially opened at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, the test run for the 2006 World Cup. Both the opening match (Germany 4–3 Australia) and the final (Brazil 4–1 Argentina) were hosted at the stadium.

Football

The main user of the stadium is the football team Eintracht Frankfurt, which has used the stadium as its home base since 1963.

In addition, the stadium also serves occasionally as an alternative venue for home games of other teams: 1. FSV Mainz 05 played their qualifying matches for the 2005–06 UEFA Cup against the Armenian representatives Mika and against Keflavík ÍF from Iceland and for the 1st Round proper against Sevilla FC in the Commerzbank Arena.[8]

The women of the local football team 1. FFC Frankfurt defeated Umeå IK 3–2 in the stadium on 24 May 2008 in the final second leg of UEFA Women's Cup, winning the European Cup for the third time and setting up a record for women's club football of 27,500 spectators.

The Turkish Football Federation has also staged several games in the arena, as Turks form a significant ethnic minority in Germany. Beşiktaş won the Turkish Super Cup with a 1–0 win over Galatasaray. Due to the suspension by UEFA of the Turkish national stadium, the qualifying matches for UEFA Euro 2008 against Malta (final score 2–0 to Turkey), against Moldova (5–0 for the Turks) and against Norway (final score 2–2) were also played here.

American football

A home game of the American football team Frankfurt Galaxy
An ice hockey game in the arena

The Waldstadion from 1991 to 2007, with a few interruptions, was home stadium for the NFL Europa's Frankfurt Galaxy American Football team. The stadium hosted the World Bowl '98, World Bowl 2000 and World Bowl XV in 2007.

Since 2008 the ground has hosted the final of the German Bowl and the final match of the German Football League. An average of around 15,000 fans watched the 2008 and 2009 finals.

The NFL planned for two regular season games to be played in the stadium in 2023 and 2025, as part of the league's International Series.[9] The 2023 matchups featured the Kansas City Chiefs playing the Miami Dolphins on November 5, which the Kansas City Chiefs won 21–14; and the New England Patriots playing the Indianapolis Colts on November 12, which the Indianapolis Colts won 10–6.

Concerts

Naming rights

Exterior view (2007), with old Commerzbank arena logo

As part of a naming sponsorship by Commerzbank AG, the Waldstadion was renamed the Commerzbank-Arena on 1 May 2005 for ten years. Commerzbank agreed to pay around €30 million to the city hosting company as part of the deal. During the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was officially referred to as the FIFA World Cup Stadium Frankfurt, as FIFA rules do not permit commercial naming of stadia.[41]

Commerzbank allowed the sponsorship contract to expire on June 30, 2020, after 15 years.[42] The new name sponsor as of July 1, 2020 is Deutsche Bank, with whom a contract has been concluded until June 30, 2027, with an option to extend.[43] Since July 1, 2020, the stadium is officially called Deutsche Bank Park.[44]

International Football Tournaments

1974 FIFA World Cup

Date Time (CET) Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Spectators
13 June 1974
17:00
Brazil 
0–0
 Yugoslavia59,000
18 June 1974
19:30
Scotland 
0–0
 Brazil62,000
22 June 1974
19:30
1–1
 Yugoslavia56,000
30 June 1974
16:00
Poland 
2–1
 Yugoslavia58,000
3 July 1974
16:30
0–1
 West Germany62,000

UEFA Euro 1988

Date Time (CET) Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Spectators
14 June 1988
20:15
Italy 
1–0
 Spain47,506
18 June 1988
15:30
England 
1–3
 Soviet Union48,335

2005 FIFA Confederations Cup

Date Time (CET) Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Spectators
15 June 2005
21:00
Germany 
4–3
 Australia46,466
19 June 2005
18:00
Greece 
0–1
 Japan34,314
22 June 2005
20:45
0–0
 Mexico31,285
29 June 2005
20:45
Brazil 
4–1
 Argentina45,591

2006 FIFA World Cup

Date Time (CET) Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Spectators
10 June 2006
15:00
England 
1–0
 Paraguay48,000
13 June 2006
15:00
South Korea 
2–1
 Togo48,000
17 June 2006
15:00
Portugal 
2–0
 Iran48,000
21 June 2006
21:00
Netherlands 
0–0
 Argentina48,000
1 July 2006
21:00
Brazil 
0–1
 France48,000

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

Date Time (CET) Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Spectators
30 June 2011
20:45
Germany 
1–0
 Nigeria48,817
6 July 2011
18:00
Equatorial Guinea 
0–3
 Brazil35,859
13 July 2011
20:45
Japan 
3–1
 Sweden45,434
17 July 2011
20:45
Japan 
2–2 (3–1 pen.)
 United States48,817

UEFA Euro 2024

Date Time (CET) Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Spectators
17 June 202418:00Belgium Match 9 SlovakiaGroup E
20 June 202418:00Denmark Match 17 EnglandGroup C
23 June 202421:00Switzerland Match 25 GermanyGroup A
26 June 202418:00Slovakia Match 33 RomaniaGroup E
1 July 202421:00Winner Group FMatch 413rd Group A/B/CRound of 16

See also

References

  1. ↑ "deutschebankpark.de". (44,000 in end-stage setup, "up to 65,000 spectators depending on usage") (in German). Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, architect: Max Bögl Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Schulze, Rainer (24 November 2022). "Ausbau hat begonnen: Mehr Stehplätze für das Waldstadion". FAZ.NET (in German). Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Max Bögl partnering Archived 7 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine architect: Max Bögl
  5. ↑ "NFL International Series: Germany will host two games of the 2023 season". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "24.07.1925–28.07.1925: Erste Arbeiter-Olympiade in Frankfurt am Main". Archiv der sozialen Demokratie. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  7. ↑ Hentilä, Seppo (2014). Bewegung, Kultur und Alltag im Arbeitersport. Helsinki: The Finnish Society for Labour History. p. 45. ISBN 978-952-59762-6-7.
  8. ↑ "Liveticker 1. FSV Mainz 05 – Sevilla FC 0:2 (Europa League 2005/2006, 1. Runde)".
  9. ↑ "NFL to hold its first game in Germany in 2022". ESPN.com. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "U2 Konzert: 02.06.1993, Frankfurt". U2tour.de (in German). Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "Top 40 International Box Office Mid-Year 2007" (PDF). Pollstar. 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  12. ↑ "The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang World Tour". It's Only Rock'n Roll. 24 June 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  13. ↑ "Collins 'open' to Genesis reunion". BBC News. 7 November 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore — Concert Grosses". Billboard. 18 August 2007. ISSN 0006-2510.
  15. ↑ "Official tour press release". Island Def Jam. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
  16. ↑ "La tournée mondiale de Céline Dion 2008–2009 – 5 continents – 85 villes – 101 spectacles" (Press release) (in French). CNW Group. 7 November 2007. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2007..
  17. ↑ Reporter, Press (8 May 2008). "Madonna's Yummy 'Sticky & Sweet Tour Itinerary Unwrapped for Fans for the Very First..." Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
  18. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. New York City. 4 October 2008. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  19. ↑ "Depeche Mode 2009 Commerzbank Arena Frankfurt". Darkmoments.de. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore — Concert Grosses". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 27. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 11 July 2009. p. 9. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  21. ↑ "U2 360° Tour 2010". U2.com. Live Nation Entertainment. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore (Subscriber's only)". Billboard. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  23. ↑ "Herbert Grönemeyer". Commerzbank-Arena. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  24. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore". Billboard. Vol. 124, no. 24. New York. 23 June 2012. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  25. ↑ "Firebirth Tour 2012". gotthard.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  26. ↑ "Billboard Biz: Current Boxscore". Billboard. 20 July 2013. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  27. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore — Concert Grosses". Billboard. 2 October 2013. ISSN 0006-2510.
  28. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore :: Current Scores". Billboard. 18 June 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  29. ↑ ""Farbspiel Live – Die Tournee": Here you can find out all about the new Helene Fischer album and the DVD" (in German). Universal Music Group. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  30. ↑ "Manfred Mann's Earthband und Floyd Reloaded am 3. Juli bei "Rockclassics In Concert" in der Commerzbank-Arena Frankfurt" (PDF). floydreloaded.com (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  31. ↑ "Goran Bregović & BIJELO DUGME" (in German). Commerzbank-Arena. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  32. ↑ "BIBI BOURELLY | Bibi Bourelly gemeinsam mit Rihanna auf Deutschlandtour | News". Universal-music.de. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  33. ↑ "The Formation World Tour". beyonce.com. 7 February 2016. Archived from the original on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  34. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore :: Current Scores". Billboard. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  35. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore — Concert Grosses". Billboard. 24 September 2016. ISSN 0006-2510.
  36. ↑ "Hans Zimmer Live". hanszimmerlive.com. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  37. ↑ "DEPECHE MODE ANNOUNCE GLOBAL SPIRIT 2017 TOUR DATES". Electronic Beats. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  38. ↑ "Tour". coldplay.com. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  39. ↑ Britton, Luke Morgan (3 October 2016). "Coldplay announce first tour dates of 2017 – see ticket information". NME. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  40. ↑ "The Heavy Entertainment Show 2017". robbiewilliams.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  41. ↑ "FIFA Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft Deutschland 2006". Fifa (in German). 8 June 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  42. ↑ "Namensrecht Commerzbank-Arena wird nicht verlängert". Commerzbank.de (in German). 1 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  43. ↑ "Sportpark im Stadtwald wird Deutsche Bank Park". Eintracht.de (in German). Eintracht Frankfurt. 1 April 2020.
  44. ↑ "Langfristiger Mietvertrag unterzeichnet". Eintracht.de (in German). 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
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