Ticket Shop
Experience the FIFA World Cup live and in person. Apply for match tickets here.
More...

A minimalist supporting structure combined with a flood of natural light through the translucent roof provide the FIFA World Cup stadium in Frankfurt with a soaring, cathedral-like atmosphere. Work on the futuristic stadium began in mid-2002, resulting in a worthy successor to the “old” Waldstadion and its plethora of sporting memories, including the waterlogged semi-final between Poland and West Germany in 1974, and the Muhammad Ali vs Karl Mildenberger bout in 1966.

Most recently, the new arena hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005 Final between Brazil and Argentina.

Construction lasted from July 2002 to October 2005, with no interruption to the Bundesliga programme at the stadium and with careful regard for the historic character of the tradition-rich site. The city council approved the construction of a new stadium on the existing site in May 2000.

A total of 80,000 cubic metres of concrete and 12,000 tons of steel were used in the project. The underground car park boasts an impressive 1,800 spaces. The steel girders and ropes used for the roof weigh some 2,500 tonnes, the 30-tonne video cube incongruously lightweight by comparison.

The Waldstadion is home to Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, whose best-known former players Bernd Hölzenbein and Jürgen Grabowski represent the city as FIFA World Cup Ambassadors.

As part of the Green Goal environment initiative, the stadium features a vast rainwater collection and drainage facility. Alongside construction costs of €126 million, a further €45 million has been invested in the local road and rail infrastructure.

Financing:
€64m from the city of Frankfurt, €20.5m from the state of Hessen, €41.5m capital loan.