54 | SPORTS VENUES 2023/24 www.stadiaworld.com CONSTRUCTION The year 2000 can certainly be seen as a decisive year for the German stadium infrastructure. Even though some of the stadiums had already been built and modernised in the run-up to the World Cup bid, the actual award of the contract to host the world’s largest single sporting event on 6 July 2000 marked a turning point for the stadium landscape. In the following five years, almost every major football venue in the country built new stadiums, following the trend: remove the track, add the boxes, put a roof on the house. The construction boom reached its peak in the spring of 2004, when six Bundesliga clubs had to keep their matches on a construction site. In addition, three clubs were simultaneously building a new stadium. A total of around 1.5 billion euros is said to have gone into the construction of the twelve World Cup host stadiums alone. A look at the current situation in the host cities less than twelve months before the start of UEFA EURO 2024 shows that both the clubs and the cities benefited from this construction boom in the long term: In most cases, it is mainly modernisation work that is pending. Comparatively affordable investments to bring the venues up to date in terms of technology, equipment and comfort. With the exception of Düsseldorf, all cities have already hosted the German “summer fairy tale”, and stadiums such as the Allianz Arena, SIGNAL IDUNA PARK and the Red Bull Arena have also regularly hosted international matches in recent years and have therefore never fallen victim to the ravages of time. Stuttgart‘s great rebuild By far the biggest construction project in the run-up to EURO 2024 is seen in Stuttgart. The last component of the stadium, which dates back to 1974, is the renovation of the main stand. In addition, the stadium will receive a PV system on the roof, new floodlights and modernisation of the hospitality areas. Around 130 million euros are estimated for the entire project – the VfB, the city of Stuttgart and the stadium operating company will share the expenses. The club’s responsibility includes the costs for the expansion of the business area including the media technology, the new tunnel club, the renewal of the stadium and box seating in the main stand area, the kitchen expansion and the public catering areas as well as costs for the modernisation of the front buildings and the interim measures for the ongoing stadium operation (e.g. VIP tent). In total, almost 55 million euros (30 million for the interior fittings of the main stand and 25 million for the share of the refurbishment costs) will go to VfB. The stadium operating company “Stadion NeckarPark GmbH & Co. KG” pays about 36.25 million euros and the share of the state capital Stuttgart amounts to about 37.5 million euros. In addition, the city will pay about 9 million euros for various security measures in defence against terrorism around the stadium and the Neckarpark. This mainly involves the upgrading of 13 neuralgic points where the stadium and its access routes have to be specially protected. The first fans should be able to take their seats in the new main stand at the start of the 2023/24 season. The first seats will be Construction report: UEFA EURO 2024 The UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany is casting its shadow ahead. After the 2006 World Cup, the last international tournament caused a veritable – and necessary – stadium construction boom in the country, this time mainly modernisation work is on the agenda. Stadium modernisation for around 130 million euros at the newly named MHPArena Stuttgart. Picture: Stadion NeckarPark/Arnim Kilgus
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