Vonovia Ruhrstadion - VfL Bochum Stadium Guide

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By Football Tripper
Last Updated: July 25, 2021

main sign of rewirpowerstadion

Ruhrstadion or rewirpowerSTADION for sponsorship reasons, is a purpose built football stadium located in the West German city of Bochum. Renovated in 1997 with a current capacity of 29,299 the ground is home to VfL Bochum who compete in the second Bundesliga.

VfL Bochum Stadium Guide

Stadium Facts

Overview
Team:VfL Bochum
Opened:1911
Capacity:27,599
Address: Castroper Straße 145, Bochum, 44791
Pitch Size:105m × 68m
Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruhrstadion
Stadium Names
Names:Ruhrstadion
Former Names:SuS-Sportplatz an der Castroper Straße (1911–1919), TuS-Sportplatz an der Castroper Straße (1919–1921), Stadion an der Castroper Straße (1921–1979), rewirpowerSTADION (2006–2016)
Construction Details
Renovated:1997

Vonovia Ruhrstadion History

Ruhrstadion first opened in 1921 after the conclusion of World War One, however the site on which the stadium sits had been used to host football matches of the local sports club as far back as 1911. Situated within a meadow, the plot of land was rented from a local farmer, and Bochum constructed a rudimentary stadium for the first ever friendly against Vfb Hamm on 8th October 1911 which was attended by 500 fans.

Vfl Bochum’s stadium peaked with a capacity of 50,000 in the post-war period, however it has decreased more or less with every subsequent renovation in reaching the current capacity of 29,299. The stadium was completely rebuilt over a three year period between March 1976 and July 1979 to give it its current four sided form, however for legal reasons it was classified officially as an expansion.

Each stand was demolished and rebuilt individually in order to minimise disruption, and the new Ruhrstadion officially re-opened with a friendly against SG Wattenscheid 09 on 21st July 1979. At the time it was one of Germany’s Premier football stadiums, and subsequently hosted a qualification match of the 1982 World Cup against Finland, as well as a warm-up match for the tournament against Yugoslavia.

At the start of the 2006/2007 season Vfl Bochum announced that Ruhrstadion would become “rewirpowerSTADION” after the naming rights were sold to Stadtwerke Bocum on a five year basis. After it expired, the deal was extended for another five years until 2016, although the decision hasn’t been popular with some sections of Vfl Bochum’s support. Some fans alternatively refer to it as Schmuckkästchen (jewellery case) and anne Castroper (the Castroper).

To date the highest level of club football played at Ruhstadion has undoubtedly been matches of the UEFA Cup. Unable to reach the group stages during the 1996/1997 season, Bochum defeated Trabzonspor and Club Brugge but failed to overcome Ajax in the final play-off. In December 1992, Ruhrstadion was also used as a back-up venue for a Champions League game between CSKA Moscow and Glasgow Rangers due to adverse weather conditions in Russia.

VFl Bochum supporters inside the stadium

View of Vonovia Ruhrstadion

VfL Bochum Info

Full Name:Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft e. V.
Rivals:1. FC Köln
Founded:1848
Team Colours:Blue and White
Club Mascot:Bobbi Bolzer
Nicknames:Die Unabsteigbaren
Famous Players:Dariusz Wosz, Simon Terodde
Famous Managers:Thomas Reis, Frank Heinemann
Team Goalscorer:Uwe Wegmann (80)
Most Appearances:Michael Lameck (572)
Official Website:https://trikot.vfl-bochum.de/index.html
Team Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VfL_Bochum

Vonovia Ruhrstadion Seating Plan

Below is a seating plan of VfL Bochum's Vonovia Ruhrstadion:

Rewirpower Stadion Bochum Seating Plan

Stand Photos

Ruhrstadion is comprised of four stands: North, East, South and West.

 

 

Click the thumbnails above to enlarge an image of each stand and to read a more detailed description of each part of the Stadium.

Matchday Experience

VfL Bochum Club Shop

Interior of VFL Bochum club shop

VfL Bochum Club Shop

How to get to Vonovia Ruhrstadion

Where is Vonovia Ruhrstadion?


Frequently Asked Questions

Who plays at Vonovia Ruhrstadion?

German side VfL Bochum play their home matches at Vonovia Ruhrstadion.

What is the capacity of Vonovia Ruhrstadion?

As of 2024 Vonovia Ruhrstadion has an official seating capacity of 27,599 for Football matches.

When was Vonovia Ruhrstadion opened?

Vonovia Ruhrstadion officially opened in 1911 and is home to VfL Bochum

What is the postcode for Vonovia Ruhrstadion?

The postcode for Vonovia Ruhrstadion is 44791.

Are there any Covid restrictions at the stadium?

Covid Restrictions may be in place when you visit Vonovia Ruhrstadion in 2024. Please visit the official website of VfL Bochum for full information on changes due to the Coronavirus.