Volksparkstadion - Hamburger SV Stadium Guide

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By Football Tripper
Last Updated: August 14, 2021

Aerial View Volksparkstadion

Volksparkstadion currently known as Imtech Arena for sponsorship reasons has been the home of Bundesliga side, Hamburger SV since 1953. The 57,000 capacity following the 1998 renovations allowed the ground to be used as one of the 12 stadia used in the 2006 World cup in Germany.

Hamburger SV Stadium Guide

Stadium Facts

Overview
Team:Hamburger SV
Opened:1953
Capacity:57,000
Address: Sylvesterallee 7, Bahrenfeld, Hamburg, 22525
Pitch Size:105 m x 68 m
Stadium Owner:Hamburger SV
Operator:Hamburger SV
Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksparkstadion
Stadium Names
Names:Volksparkstadion (1953-2001)
Former Names:AOL Arena (2001–2007), HSH Nordbank Arena (2007–2010), Imtech Arena (2010–2015)
Construction Details
Broke Ground:1951
Built:1951-1953
Construction Cost:€90–100 million (2018)
Renovated:1998 (New Stadium)

Volksparkstadion History

The Hamburg Arena has undergone several name changes since it opened in 1953 with the original name of Volksparkstadion (People’s Park Stadium) lasting until 2001 until the commercial realities of running a top flight football club caught up with Hamburger SV. Volksparkstadion has had three sponsorship names: AOL Arena (2001-2007), HSH Nordbank Arena (2007-2010) and currently Imtech Arena (2010 – present).

The stadium was built in 1953 to replace the crumbling Altona Stadium, and the new 65,000 capacity stadium was used as part of the 1974 Fifa World Cup. It hosted three group matches, all of which contained the host nation including a tight encounter between East and West Germany with the “away” side defeating the hosts 1 nil.

Until the reconstruction in 1998 the “Old Concrete bowl” was amongst the most unpopular stadiums in Germany with fans dissatisfied with the lack of adequate roofing, and restrictive athletics track around the perimeter of the pitch. The common complaints led to the vision of a “autonomous, and purely football” Arena Project. Consequently the old stands were demolished with the pitch rotating 90 degrees to allow better sunlight onto the pitch.

The estimated cost of the new stadium was €90-100 million and Hamburger SV purchased the ownership of the ground outright from the council in 1998 to symbolically mark the start of a new area. The project came in slightly over budget which may have been the driving force of the naming rights sale in 2000.

The Imtech Arena today is considered a UEFA Elite Stadium, and it hosted four group games in the 2006 World Cup as well as a quarter-final match between eventual winners Italy and Ukraine (3-0), although it was referred to Fifa World Cup Stadium Hamburg for sponsorship reasons. It also hosted the 2010 Europa League Final between Fulham and Atletico Madrid with the Spanish side winning 2-1.

Imtech Arena view from outside

View of Volksparkstadion

Hamburger SV Info

Full Name:Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V.
Rivals:FC St. Pauli, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munchen
Founded:1887
Team Colours:White, Blue and Black
Club Mascot:The Dinosaur
Nicknames:Die Rothosen (The Red Shorts), Der Dino (The Dinosaur)
Former Stadiums:Old Volksparkstadion (1953-2000)
Famous Players:Son Heung-min, Vincent Kompany, Kevin Keegan, Franz Beckenbauer, Rafael van der Vaart, Nigel de Jong, Jérôme Boateng
Famous Managers:Martin Jol, Felix Magath, Ernst Happel, Horst Hrubesch
Team Goalscorer:Uwe Seeler (491)
Most Appearances:Manfred Kaltz (729)
Official Website:https://www.hsv.de/en/homepage
Team Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger_SV

Volksparkstadion Seating Plan

Below is a seating plan of Hamburger SV's Volksparkstadion:

Imtech Hamburg Arena Seating Plan

Stand Photos

Imtech Arena can be thought of as four separate sections: Nord Tribune, Ost Tribune, Sud Tribune and West Tribune.

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

Volksparkstadion Away Section

Away fans are housed within a section of corner seating between the southern goal-end and the West Tribune. By default travelling supporters who make the trip to Hamburg are housed within the two lowest tiers of this stand and are given two ways to watch the game: seating or standing. The ground tier is basically a terrace whereas the second tier offers fans standard seating options.

Although the corner of any stadium isn’t the most desirable location views from this part of the ground are generally impeccable as the cantilevered roof design ensures that there are no restricted views. As is the case in Germany, away fans inside the Imtech sit opposite the most vocal section of Hamburg fans who occupy the north stand which means the stadium is filled with noise throughout on matchdays.

Best Pubs near ground

The city of Hamburg is famed for its nightlife and as a stag destination across Europe and you certainly won’t be disappointed by the selection of bars once you have arrived.

Naturally the city centre has more sports bars and Irish pubs but there are two noteworthy boozers close to Imtech: Catonium and the Carlsberg Bar.

Food - Places to eat

As we’re in Hamburg it would be silly of me to mention where you can get a “decent” burger…and it looks like there is a McDonald’s just across the other side of Altonaer Volkspark.

Within the concourses themselves there is of course the standard choice of fast-food options such as Frankfurters, Pretezels and Fries. Plus plenty of Pilsner.

Hamburger SV Club Shop

Interior of Hamburger SV Shop

Hamburger SV Club Shop

HSV operate 4 stores across the city of Hamburg as well as a official online store which means you can purchase your Rothosen (Red Shorts) no matter where you are in the world. The most convenient place to purchase merchandise for the majority of fans is at the Arena Store itself.

Opening Hours:

  • Monday to Friday:10. 00 am – 6:00 pm
  • Saturday: 10.00am – 6.00pm.
  • Matchdays: 2 hours before kick-off

Can you take a stadium Tour?

For only €10.00 you can hoist yourself around the Hallowed Halls of Hamburg’s home, taking in top-secret trails and treasures such as the tunnel, the turf and the trophy room in a tour lasting approximately 75 minutes.

Tours run thrice daily with additional time slots available during bank holidays and Summer Holidays with the most up to date listings available here:

  • Monday – Friday: 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00.
  • Saturday and Sunday: 10.30, 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00

To book your place on the tour you can either phone +49 (0) 40 4155 1550, email [email protected] or visit the website listed above.

How to buy Hamburger SV Tickets

Tickets to see HSV play football can either be purchased Online, via Phone on the Hamburg Hotline (+49 (0) 1805 478 478) or at one of the four official stores located at the stadium and throughout the city.

Price wise HSV tickets deviate slightly away from the Bundesliga norm by operating a four tiered pricing structure with classifications starting at C and going up to A+.

The cheapest category (C) offer standing tickets for just €16.00, €20.00 behind the goal and up to €55.00 for a central place near the half way line. The most expensive category (A+) are almost double in price at €40.00,  €94.00 for identical seats although there is some suggestion that terrace prices stay the same which is a nice move.

How to get to Volksparkstadion

Where is Volksparkstadion?

Altonaer Volkspark where Imtech Arena is located is exactly 9km North-West of Hamburg’s city centre which maps often mark as being between Neustadt (New town) and Altstadt (Historical city centre).


Driving

Imtech Arena is less than 1km away from the A7 stretch of motorway which traverses both North and South of the city, making it very accessible via car. Look for the Hamburg-Volkspark exit and then follow the signs to the stadium.

The address for satnav is as follows:

  • Sylvesterallee 7, 22525 Hamburg

Car Park

There is a large car park located 2 minutes west of the stadium which is accessible from Hellgrundweg road. Although it is large it does fill up quickly on matchdays, and we’re not currently sure how much it costs.

Train - Public Transport

Hamburg Hauptbahnhof is the main train station of the city and is located very centrally, slightly North of waterfront part of town, to the right hand side of the Außenalster (Outer Alster) Lake.

Inside Stellingren Station.

Public Transport of Volksparkstadion

Airports and Flying

Hamburg International Airport is around 11km North of the city centre in pretty much a straight line and takes around 22 minutes to drive via car with moderate traffic.

As the fifth largest airport in Germany based on passenger numbers, Hamburg is a well connected destinations with over 60 airlines serving over 125 destinations.

Once you have landed and grabbed your luggage you can travel to your hotel in the city via the S1 line of the S-Bahn which is a cheap and efficient form of ground transportation.

Hotels Near Volksparkstadion

Whilst there aren’t any hotels within the grounds of Altonaer People’s Park, there are a few located on surrounding roads with the Arena Hostel Hamburg to the north of the stadium the highest rated choice and only a 10 minute walk away.

The historic centre near to the waterfront has seemingly endless options with the Hamburg Marriott Hotel (expensive), Hotel Bee Fang (Cheap) and  Hotel Lumen (in between) all well located near to the main train station of the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who plays at Volksparkstadion?

German side Hamburger SV play their home matches at Volksparkstadion.

What is the capacity of Volksparkstadion?

As of 2024 Volksparkstadion has an official seating capacity of 57,000 for Football matches.

When was Volksparkstadion opened?

Volksparkstadion officially opened in 1953 and is home to Hamburger SV

What is the postcode for Volksparkstadion?

The postcode for Volksparkstadion is 22525.

Are there any Covid restrictions at the stadium?

Covid Restrictions may be in place when you visit Volksparkstadion in 2024. Please visit the official website of Hamburger SV for full information on changes due to the Coronavirus.