Key facts
Club: Fortuna Düsseldorf 1895 | Opening: 2004 | Capacity: 54,600 (9,917 standing)
History and description
Merkur Spiel Arena, previously known as ESPRIT arena, got built between 2002 and 2004. It replaced the old Rheinstadion.
The city of Düsseldorf had hoped that the arena would be used as a playing venue during the 2006 World Cup, but their bid got rejected. The total project costs, including surrounding infrastructure, amounted to €218 million.
The first match at the stadium, a league match between Fortuna Düsseldorf and Union Berlin (2-0), was played on 10 September 2004. The stadium officially opened a few months later, on 18 January 2005, with a friendly match between Fortuna and Bayern Munich.
Until 2009, the stadium was named LTU Arena, but in 2009 a new sponsorship deal was agreed with clothing manufacturer Esprit resulting in ESPRIT Arena. In 2018, the stadium got renamed again following a new naming rights deal to Merkur Spiel Arena.
Since 2019, the Merkur Spiel Arena has also been hosting the home matches of KFC Uerdingen while their home Grotenburg-Stadion is being renovated.
How to get to the Merkur Spiel Arena
The Merkr Spiel Arena is located in the north of Düsseldorf on the banks of the river Rhine. It lies slightly more than 5 kilometres from Düsseldorf’s historic centre and almost 7 kilometres from the city’s main railway station (Hauptbahnhof). Düsseldorf International Airport is situated just north-east of the stadium.
You can reach the stadium with metro (U-bahn) line U78. Station Merkur Spiel Arena/Messe Nord is the last stop on the line. The journey from Hauptbahnhof takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The train also passes station Heinrich-Heine-Allee, which lies near the old town.
Address: Arena Straße 1, 40474 Düsseldorf
Eat, drink, and sleep near the Merkur Spiel Arena
The Merkur Spiel Arena is located in a quiet area with little entertainment around. Düsseldorf’s old town, however, is filled with bars and restaurants and only a 15-minute metro ride away.
If you wish to stay as close as possible to the Merkur Spiel Arena, you cannot get it any better than the Tulip Inn, which is located inside the arena. The restaurant even has a view onto the pitch. The hotel is mainly aimed at business travellers for the nearby conference centre and is accordingly priced. The FFFZ Hotel Tagungshaus is also located at walking distance of the arena and is somewhat cheaper.
There are some further hotels not far north of the stadium, which are nicely situated if you have to catch a flight from Düsseldorf Airport the day after the match. Hotel Destination 21 and Air Hotel Wartburg are some of the options. Click here for other hotels near the Merkur Spiel Arena.
If you have a bit more time to spare, staying in Düsseldorf’s very fine city centre may be more enjoyable though. There is a wide range of hotels that come in all pricing categories.
Fortuna Dusseldorf Tickets
Tickets for Fortuna Düsseldorf matches can be bought online, at the Fan-Shop at the Paul-Janes-Stadion (Flinger Broich 87), or at one of the other sales points (e.g. at the tourist offices at the Hauptbahnhof and the Marktplatz 6 in the historic centre).
A ticket for the standing terrace costs €13.00. Seats range in price from €17.00 for one at the upper corners to €46.00 for a central seat at the main stand.
Merkur Spiel Arena stadium tours
The Merkur Spiel Arena offers guided stadium tours that include access to the dressing rooms, VIP areas, press room, and players tunnel. The tours last about 90 minutes.
Tours run at irregular dates, usually on Sunday noon on non-matchdays. For current dates check the website of the arena.
Reservations are required and can be made by email fuehrungen@zecco.de or phone+49 (0) 211 415 542 12. The tour costs €10.00.
Photos of the Merkur Spiel Arena
Relevant Internet links
Fortuna-duesseldorf.de – Official website of Fortuna Düsseldorf 1895.
Duesseldorf-tourismus.de – Düsseldorf tourist information.
VRR.de – Public transport information for the Rhine-Ruhr area.
1 comment
I went to watch a game against Heidenheim last weekend. Bought my ticket online a few days before the game but had to ring in the office to pay for it. I left them an email with the details of myself and ticket I wanted. Then I rang them to pay. I guess if you speak German you can do everything online. I had to pick the ticket up before the game. My friend dropped my off near the stadium. I struggled to get around the stadium. They are few pick up points and I ended up going to the wrong one. Then stewards gave me confusing information directing me to the wrong places. I managed to find this collection point and got my ticket. I found my stand and got to my seat. View was superb. The stadium is very nice. Game was a bit boring. Home team lost 1-0. The support was good for one of the worst teams in 2 bundesliga. After the game I travelled by s-bahn to city centre. The station is opposite Esprit Arena so it is enough to follow the crowd. Overall nice experience and very nice stadium.