MHPArena

The MHPArena 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 MHPArena 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 history of the MHPArena 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 which brought the capacity back up to 60,000 and the stadium has stayed the same ever since.

Going to the MHPArena 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 MHPArena, don’t do anything silly outside the stadium or in it.

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 MHPArena 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.

MHPArena Seating Plan

The MHPArena 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 by 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 into 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 Neckarpakr.

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 the MHPArena

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

Ticket prices for matches at the MHPArena 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.

The average attendance at the MHPArena for the 2022/23 season was 46,471. The record attendance at the MHPArena is 97,553 for a match played between Germany and Switzerland in 1950.

You can learn more about the fascinating history of the MHPArena 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.

Karlsruher SC and Stuttgarter Kickers.

Stuttgart’s MHPArena has been selected as one of ten Euro 2024 host stadiums.

Euro 2024 matches at the MHPArena

• 16/06: Slovenia vs Denmark
• 19/06: Germany vs Hungary
• 23/06: Scotland vs Hungary
• 26/06: Ukraine vs Belgium
• 05/07: Quarter-final