Vonovia Ruhrstadion

The stadium is known by traditional fans as the Ruhrstadion, and the Bochum-based stadium has been open for 112 years. There have been various redevelopment projects on the ground, with the most significant taking place between 1976 to 1979 when every stand of the stadium was rebuilt.

There have been two sponsors who have gained naming rights on the stadium since 2006. From 2006 to 2016, Vfl Bochum’s stadium was called the rewirpowerSTADion and since 2016 the stadium has been called the Vonovia Ruhrstadion. Vonovia is a German real estate company that is located in Bochum.

With a capacity of 26,000 for Vfl Bochum’s home games, Vonovia Ruhrstadion is the 17^th biggest stadium in the Bundesliga.

Vonovia Ruhrstadion has also hosted international matches and music concerts. David Bowie performed at the stadium in the 1983, while Herbert Grönemeyer has performed at the stadium nine times since 1985.

Vonovia Ruhrstadion has hosted four Germany matches since 1922. Three of these games were friendlies, while the other was a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The first of these games was a 0-0 draw with Hungary in a friendly on 2 July 1922. On 23 September 1981, Germany beat Finland 7-1 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Five years later, Germany drew with Yugoslavia on 11 May 1986. Finally, Germany beat Ghana 6-1 in a friendly on 14 April 1993, which is the last Germany game that has been played at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.

On 9 December 1992, Vonovia Ruhrstadion also hosted a UEFA Champions League game between CSKA Moscow and Rangers due to weather difficulties in Russia.

There are regular tours at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion during the week. Tickets are available to buy for just €5 per person, and can be bought from the club website or the fanshop at the stadium.

The tour includes access to VIP areas, press and dressing rooms, as well as the tunnel to the pitch. Tours typically last around 60 minutes.

Matchday tickets can be purchased at the stadium in the fanshop or on the Vfl Bochum 1848 website.

Tickets for Vfl Bochum 1848 home games are split into Category A and Category B games. Category B fixtures include matches against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

For Category A matches, standing tickets cost as little as €16, with tickets in the main (north) stand, costing between €31 and €49. For Category B matches, standing tickets cost €19, while tickets in the main stand cost between €41 to €59.

Tickets for children under 14 cost €8 for Category A games, and €18 for Category B matches. Prices also differ depending on membership, with Vfl Bochum members gaining a discount and early access on matchday tickets. A ticket in the main stand is €2.50 cheaper for Vfl Bochum members.

You can find this information and purchase tickets here at Vfl Bochum 1848’s club website.

If you are planning to use public transport to reach the stadium, fans should take S-Bahn line S1 to Bochum main station. From here, take the underground line 308/318 to Vonovia Ruhrstadion. This will take approximately three minutes and is included in the match ticket.

Alternatively, it is a short walk from Bochum central station to the stadium. It is around a 1.5-mile walk, which takes around 15 to 20 minutes.

The stadium is just south of the A40 motorway. Fans can reach the stadium via the A43 Münster-Wuppertal. From here, leave the A43 at the Bochumer Kreuz exit and change to the A40 towards Essen. Finally, take exit 36 towards Bochum Stadion.

The best place to park on matchday is the multi-storey car park, Stadionring. Parking here costs €4. There are also 300 parking spots at RuhrCongress, as well as four parking areas next to the ground for fans with VIP tickets.

Away fans can access the stadium via the west entrance of the stadium, where they will be placed in standing room block E1 and seating block E2/F.

Away fans are also advised to park in the Stadionring car park, which has 2000 parking spaces. Payment for this car park is cashless, with no ticket required, as the system is monitored by a number plate recognition system.

Cars, minibuses and coaches with travelling away fans can park next to the Stadionring car park, however it costs €10.

There are a variety of pubs that fans can visit before a game on matchday. “Ritterburg” is popular with locals, as well as Havana Bochum and Badalona Bar.

There is also a pub district called “Bermudadreieck” in Bochum where fans can go before and after the match. The district holds over 30 bars and pubs and to get there, fans should stop at the station called “Engelbert-Brunnen / Brüderstraße”.

There are food options within the stadium, however, the best restaurants and cafés near the stadium are located on Castroper Straße.

There are many options to stay near the Vonovia Ruhrstadion. The best options in terms of quality and proximity to the stadium include Courtyard by Marriot Bochum Stadtpark, Mercure Hotel Bochum City and Ibis Bochum Zentrum. All of these hotels are within a mile of the stadium and offer sensible pricing for accommodation.

Geographically, SG Wattenscheid 09 are Vfl Bochum 1848’s main rivals. However, Wattenscheid currently play in the fifth tier of German football and matches between the clubs are rare apart from friendlies.

The two main Bundesliga rivals in recent years have been Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 due to their geographic location in the Ruhr district of Germany.

Schalke’s relegation to 2. Bundesliga means Dortmund are the main Bundesliga rivals in the 2023/24 season. However, the fixture with Dortmund has not been kind to Bochum in recent years. Bochum have only won one of the last six head to head matches, with the most recent game a 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.

50,000, Vfl Bochum 1848 vs SG Wattenscheid 09 (21 July 1979, Friendly)

There are 60 wheelchair spaces in the north stand, which costs €11 for Category A games and €16 for Category B games. An accompanying person is included in the ticket and the entrance is at the marathon gate.

There are seats for fans with visual and hearing impairments across the stadium with the accompanying person needing a severely disabled certificate to enter the stadium.

Fans with severe disabilities can sit everywhere in the stadium apart from the west stand, with tickets ranging from €15 to €25.

There are two barrier-free toilets in the stadium at the marathon gate and in the north stand.

There is an in-depth guide to the disability access and facilities here.

Vfl Bochum 1848 fixture list