MHP Arena

Going to the MHP Arena as an away fan can be enjoyable, as Stuttgart usually allocate up to 5,000 tickets for away supporters. The away section is in the Untertürkheimer stand in the corner and spans two tiers. The away fans enter through blocks 61-65.

Due to the bowl-like structure of the stadium, there are Stuttgart supporters on either side of the away end, which some fans may feel is intimidating. Stuttgart have quite a passionate support, too, so if you are an away fan heading to the MHP Arena, don’t do anything silly outside the stadium or in it.

MHP Arena wins international award

After undergoing significant renovation ahead of Euro 2024, Stuttgart’s MHP Arena has been handed a Gold Award by Eventex.

It is a prestigious accolade and positions the stadium as one of the best hospitality venues in the world of football.

Speaking after the club received the award, Rouven Kasper, chief marketing and sales officer at VFB Stuttgart, said: “We’re delighted to receive this special award. It underlines the fact that the MHP Arena has developed into an innovative and highly attractive location for events and functions, due to its comprehensive modernisation as well as our marketing and operating strategy.

For Stuttgart, our economic region, VfB, ourselves and our partners, a modernised MHP Arena – which is unrivalled in terms of event space flexibility and as a venue – is an important milestone.”

As one of the most storied football clubs in Germany, VfB Stuttgart are credited with massive success over the years. They have been the national champions on five occasions, with the latest honours being in the 2006/07 season.

As a result, Veren für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V. have earned praises from fans, especially through fan chants. Below are some notable AfB Stuttgart chants.

• Unsere Mannschaft (Our Team)
• Oh VfB hier im Stadion (Oh VfB Here in the Stadium)
• Forza VfB
• Allez VfB

Like most clubs with a strong support base, Stuttgart ultras, popularly known as Commando Cannstatt 97 has been one of the most influential supporter group in the history of the club.

Below is a common tifo often sighted where the ultras occupy at MPH Arena.

Germany: 20th anniversary of Commando Cannstatt 97. | VfB Stuttgart 1893 – SG Dynamo Dresden 02.04.2017 https://t.co/VfFfVaNu4m pic.twitter.com/rPDvP3jBfM

— Ultras-Tifo (@UltrasTifo) April 2, 2017

The MHP Arena is one of the nicest stadiums in Germany after going through several renovations over the years. Its most striking characteristic is its fabric roof which was built with customised polyester membrane. From a birds-eye view of the stadium, the roof appears to cover the entire stadium other than the pitch which helps to bounce the atmosphere from one end to the other.

Due to its design, there isn’t a bad seat in the house at the MHP Arena thanks to its bowl-like architecture and the aforementioned roof which sits flat on top of the stands as opposed to at an incline. The stadium has two tiers all around the stadium with the exception of the Gegentribüne which has a small third tier, too.

The Main Stand at the MHP Arena was modernised ahead of Euro 2024, with new hospitality and media facilities. The renovation works, which cost over €100 million, were completed in the lower sections of the stand. There are also Category 2 and Category 3 seats located in the corners of this part of the stadium. The opposite stand also holds Category 1 and VIP seats in the middle section, with cheaper viewing spots located on either side.

Stuttgart’s most passionate supporters are located behind the goal in Cannstatter Kurve. This is where the ultras are placed for every home league match. At the other end is the Unterturkheim Curve, which typically holds the visiting supporters.

Given that the MHP Arena has been renovated and expanded consistently in the 21st century to ensure it meets modern standards, there are not many bad viewing spots inside the ground. Any Category 2 area inside the ground is advised if you’re looking for something affordable with a great view of the action.

MHP Arena Seating Plan

While there are some food and drink options nearby to the stadium, you will have a better time enjoying some pre-match food and drink in Stuttgart City Centre before taking the train to the stadium for kick off.

Stuttgart is a nice German city with plenty of options for food and drinks. Three bars/restaurants that you should check out before a match in the city centre are:

• Carambolage
• Erdgeschoss
• Biddy Early’s Irish Pub

If you would prefer being closer to the stadium for food and drink, then you could check out these options. They are all within a short walking distance of the MHPArena.

• Palm Beach Stuttgart
• Klauss & Klauss – Dinkelacker Festzelt
• Rossle

Krautschupfnudeln at Stuttgart (@VfB)

💶 €6.50 (£5.50) pic.twitter.com/meRyKSefhT

— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) December 13, 2022

The MHP Arena is located around 4.5km from the city centre in Stuttgart, which makes it a long walk away if you are someone who wants to make the journey on foot. Thankfully, there are plenty of public transport options available, which make it easy to get to the stadium.

If you are coming from outside of Stuttgart, then you first of all need to get a train to Stuttgart Railway Station. This is also where fans in the City should look to get to in order to get to the stadium.

From there, take the S-Bahn (overground metro system) using line S1 from the Railway Station towards Kirchheim. Get off at Neckarpark and then take a short five-minute walk to the stadium. On matchdays, fans can also use Stadtbahn line U11 from the Railway Station to get to Neckarpark.

By car, you will need to either use the B10 or B14 and then just follow signs for the stadium, which appear regularly. The stadium has a limited number of pre-booked parking spots for each match, but these go quickly so public transport should be the preferred method of getting to the MHP Arena

You can learn more about the fascinating history of the MHP Arena and also gain access to the dressing rooms through a stadium tour. The club offers stadium tours all year around except on matchdays and they cost €11 for adults, €7 for concessions and €0 for children aged between 0-5. Each tour lasts around 90 minutes.

The history of the MHP Arena is dark and fascinating in equal measure. In many ways, it’s a miracle that it’s still standing today.

When it was being constructed in the late 1920s, the stadium was being built under the name “Stuttgarter Kampfbahn”. However, when it was finally completed and opened in 1933, it was officially named the Adolf-Hitler-Kampfbahn after the then-leader of Germany insisted on it.

In the immediate aftermath of World War Two, the stadium was taken over by US troops who renamed it the Century Stadium, and it was used primarily to host Baseball matches. In 1949, it was renamed the Neckarstadion, and the capacity was increased from around 35,000 to close to 100,000. In 1950, 97,553 fans turned out to watch Germany play Switzerland – a record that still stands today.

The first significant bit of renovation work on the stadium took place in the 1970s as Stuttgart prepared to host some 1974 World Cup fixtures. The stadium’s capacity was cut down to 70,500 and in 1993, seating was installed, in addition to the iconic roof. At this point, the stadium was renamed again – to the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in honour of the man who had financed the renovations.

The capacity was reduced further to 41,000 in 2008 when the City of Stuttgart decided to make it a pure football stadium. This meant the running track was removed, and one stand was completely demolished. The stadium became known as the Mercedes-Benz Arena later that year.

Three years later, two new stands were added,d which brought the capacity back up to 60,000, and the stadium has stayed the same ever since.

The record attendance at the MHP Arena is 97,553 for a match played between Germany and Switzerland in 1950.

The average attendance at the MHP Arena in recent years have been as follows:

• 2019/20: 51,877 (Bundesliga)
• 2022/23: 46,471 (Bundesliga)
• 2023/24: 57,000 (Bundesliga)
• 2024/25: 57,935 (Bundesliga)

Football rivalry is what keeps the sport exciting across different leagues, especially the local derbies. VfB Stuttgart, a Bundesliga outfit, are not spared from local rivalry and drama that come with playing at the highest level of German football.

Apart from their presence in the Bundesliga, Stuttgart are also currently participating in the UEFA Europa League and, DFB Pokal, a domestic cup competition.

With these competitions, you would expect some level of animosity with other teams as well as their supporters, but let’s focus on the primary rivals.

Karlsruher SC

Karlsruher SC are regarded as the biggest football rival of VfB Stuttgart. A matchup between these teams is popularly known as the Baden-Wurttemberg derby, sometimes referred to as the Sudwestderby.

Meetings between Stuttgart and Karlsruhe are always a battle of bragging rights and regional pride, particularly in southwest Germany.

However, meetings between these teams have been rare in recent years because they currently ply their trades in different divisions. Karlsruher are currently a Bundesliga II outfit.

SC Freiburg

Freiburg, another local rival of Stuttgart, are also based within Baden-Wurttemberg. However, clashes between the sides have generally been friendlier compared to the heated exchanges and tense atmosphere often witnessed in the clash with Karlsruher.

During the 2025/26 season, both Stuttgart and Stuttgart play in the Bundesliga, so several meetings are expected between these teams during the campaign.

Other notable rivals of Stuttgart are Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt.

After the stadium underwent large-scale renovation ahea dof Euro 2024, the disabled facilities at the MHP Arena were greatly improved.

The venue now has a total of 200 wheelchair-user spaces – in fact the entire stadium and all of its many entrances are step-free.

If you have any specific needs, we recommend contacting the club ahead of your arrival.

Ticket prices for matches at the MHP Arena depend on where you want to sit and how big the match is. The tickets range from £20 – £70 for adults but these prices are discounted for concessions and juniors.