Key facts<\/h3>\n

Club: VfB Stuttgart | Opening: 1933 | Capacity: 60,441 (11,121 standing)<\/p>\n

History and description<\/h3>\n

The Mercedes-Benz Arena got built between 1929 and 1933, and opened on 26 July 1933 with the German Gymnastics Championships. The stadium was initially called Adolf-Hitler-Kampfbahn, and could hold about 35,000 spectators.<\/p>\n

Just two years later, the stadium was further expanded with wooden stands to a capacity of over 70,000 places, though these stands had to get closed in 1938 due to safety regulations.<\/p>\n

After the Second World War, the name of the stadium was first changed to Century Stadium, and later in 1949 to Neckarstadion.<\/p>\n

Right after, Neckarstadion was properly expanded and reached a capacity of almost 100,000 places.<\/p>\n

In 1959 the stadium hosted the European Cup final<\/a> between Real Madrid and Stade de Reims (2-0). A few years later, in 1962, Atl\u00e9tico Madrid beat Fiorentina 3-0 in the replay of that year\u2019s Cup Winner\u2019s Cup final.<\/p>\n

In the early 1970s Neckarstadion got extensively renovated to prepare it for the 1974 World Cup. Works included the reconstruction of the main stand and cover for the opposite side. Capacity was reduced to 70,500 places.<\/p>\n

During the 1974 World Cup, the stadium hosted three matches in the first group stage, and the match between Poland and Sweden (1-0) in the second group phase.<\/p>\n

In 1988 Neckarstadion hosted its second European Cup final. The match between PSV Eindhoven and Benfica was won by the Dutch on penalties after having drawn 0-0 in regular time.<\/p>\n

One month later, the stadium was one of the playing venues of the 1988 European Championships, hosting one first round group match and the semi-final between the Soviet Union and Italy (2-0).<\/p>\n

Further redevelopments in 1993 saw the majority of the terraces converted into seats and a roof constructed that covered the complete stadium.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the stadium changed name to Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, prompted by the financing of the works by car manufacturer Daimler-Benz.<\/p>\n

Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadium underwent a next renovation in preparation for the 2006 World Cup<\/a>, which included the reconstruction of the upper tiers.<\/p>\n

During the World Cup, the stadium hosted 6 matches, including four first round group matches, the round of 16 match between England and Ecuador (1-0), and the match for third place between Germany and Portugal (3-1).<\/p>\n

At that time, the stadium still had an athletics track, but in 2008 the city of Stuttgart decided to convert the stadium into a proper football stadium. The pitch was lowered, two new stands were built at the short ends, and the other stands extended closer to the pitch.<\/p>\n

Capacity increased to its current total, and at the same time the name of the stadium changed to Mercedes-Benz Arena. Works were completed in the middle of 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t

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(photos of the present Mercedes-Benz Arena below)<\/p>\n

How to get to the Mercedes-Benz Arena<\/h3>\n

The Mercedes-Benz Arena is located in the north-east of Stuttgart on the east bank of the river Neckar, about 4.5 kilometres from Stuttgart\u2019s city centre and main rail station.<\/p>\n

If arriving by car from the motorways around Stuttgart, signs with a stadium symbol will guide you, via the B10 and B14, to the stadium.<\/p>\n

If using public transport, take overground metro (S-Bahn<\/a>) line S1 from the main rail station (Hbf). Take the train in the direction of Kirchheim and get off at stop Neckarpark. From there it is a 5-minute walk to the stadium.<\/p>\n

On matchdays, Stadtbahn line U11 can also bring you from the main rail station to the stadium (NeckarPark).<\/p>\n

It is furthermore a doable 30-minute walk to the stadium from Bad Cannstatt station, which is served by several S-Bahn and other train lines.<\/p>\n

Address: Mercedesstra\u00dfe 87, 70372 Stuttgart (Bad Cannstatt)<\/p>\n