<\/p>\n

Key facts<\/h3>\n

Club: 1. FC Kaiserslautern | Opening: 1920 | Capacity: 49,780 (15,426 standing)<\/p>\n

History and description<\/h3>\n

Fritz-Walter-Stadion, then still called Sportplatz Betzenberg, got built in 1920. It initially consisted of one wooden stand, a sandy pitch, and changing facilities for the players.<\/p>\n

Sportplatz\u00a0Betzenberg officially opened on 13 May 1920 with a match between Kaiserslautern and FC Pfalz Ludwigshafen (0-2).<\/p>\n

In 1930, the wooden stand got destroyed in a heavy storm, which formed the prelude of a large redevelopment resulting in a new main stand and concrete terraces.<\/p>\n

Stadion\u00a0Betzenberg got further expanded in 1953 and at that time could hold just over 30,000 spectators.<\/p>\n

In the following decades, the club kept gradually expanding and modernising the stadium, with new stands at the long sides being opened in 1963 and 1973. After both ends had undergone extensive refurbishments in the late 1970s and mid 1980s, the redevelopment was complete and capacity had been raised to 38,000. At the same time the name of the stadium got changed to Fritz-Walter-Stadion.<\/p>\n

Kaiserslautern did not waste much time to start a new round of redevelopments though. A new North Stand opened in 1994, followed by a new South Stand in 1998.<\/p>\n

When Fritz-Walter-Stadion got selected as a playing venue for the 2006 World Cup<\/a>, another round of works started that expanded both ends in similar style of the South Stand.<\/p>\n

During the 2006 World Cup, Fritz-Walter-Stadion hosted four group matches and the round of 16 match between Italy and Australia (2-1).<\/p>\n

Despite the name change, the stadium is still commonly referred to as Stadion Betzenberg.<\/p>\n\n\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t

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(photos of the present Fritz-Walter-Stadion below)<\/p>\n

How to get to Fritz-Walter-Stadion<\/h3>\n

Fritz-Walter-Stadion is located just south of Kaiserslautern’s city centre, at only a few hundred metres from the main railway<\/a> station. From the station it is an approximate 5-minute walk slightly uphill. From the centre it takes about 10 minutes longer to get to the stadium by foot.<\/p>\n

On matchdays there is limited parking available around the stadium, and it is therefore advised to park you car in Kaiserslautern’s centre and walk to the stadium.<\/p>\n

Address: Fritz-Walter-Stra\u00dfe 1, 67663 Kaiserslautern<\/p>\n