Stadion An der Alten Försterei - 1. FC Union Berlin Stadium Guide

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By Football Tripper
Last Updated: September 8, 2021

aerial view stadion an der alten forsterei

Stadion An der Alten Försterei or Alte Försterei is a purpose built football stadium located in the German capital of Berlin.

Home to 1.FC Union Berlin who are the smaller club compared to their city rivals Hertha Berlin, the ground has a current capacity of 21,717 and first opened back in 1920.

1. FC Union Berlin Stadium Guide

Stadium Facts

Overview
Team:1. FC Union Berlin
Opened:1920
Capacity:22,012
Address: An der Wuhlheide 263, Köpenick, Berlin, 12555
Pitch Size:109m × 73m
Record Attendance:22,012 vs FC St. Pauli (17th October 2015)
Stadium Owner:An der Alten Försterei Stadionbetriebs AG
Operator:1. FC Union Berlin
Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadion_An_der_Alten_F%C3%B6rsterei
Official Site:https://www.altefoersterei.berlin/
Stadium Names
Names:Stadium at the old forester's house, Alte Försterei (Old Forerstry)
Former Names:Sportplatz Sadowa
Construction Details
Expanded:1970, 1983, 2013
Renovated:1955, 2000, 2009

Stadion An der Alten Försterei History

Stadion An Der Alten Försterei has been home to 1.FC Union Berlin since it first opened back in 1920, with the inaugural match played on 17th March against local rivals Viktoria 89 Berlin.

The first competitive match was played in August at the start of the 1920/1921 season against 1.FC Nuremberg who at the time were Champions of Germany.

The Stadium remained relatively unchanged in the first 40 years of its existence until 1996 when Union Berlin were promoted to the DDR-Oberliga which was the top-flight of Football in East Germany at the time.

The ground peaked with a capacity of 22,500 after the Gegengerade terrace was expanded in the late 1970s, however by the 1989 when the reunification of Germany occurred, the stadium was largely run down and in a state of dereliction.

By the late 1990s Union Berlin were only allowed to play at Alte Försterei due to special dispensation from the DFL, who enforced the closure of large sections of the ground which significantly reduced the ground’s capacity.

With large sections of the club’s fanbase regarding Alte Försterei as the club’s spiritual home, relocation to new facilities was never an option, and thus renovation was required. Taking place across two distinct phases, the crumbling stadium was transformed over a five year period into a relatively modern football ground.

The first phase occurred during the 2008/2009 season when roofs were added and refurbishment targeted the oldest sections of the ground, and the second between 2012 and 2013 when the main stand was demolished and completely rebuilt.

Costing around 20 million euros in total, the new Alte Försterei achieved its first sell-out on 31st August 2013 when 21,717 fans attended a match against FC St. Pauli.

During the 2014 World Cup, 1. FC Union Berlin invited fans to bring their own sofas to the ground for the duration of the tournament.

Over 750 sofas sat in front of the giant television, and “World Cup Living Room” was clearly good luck as Germany became World Champions for the fourth time after defeating Argentina 1 nil in extra time at Estádio do Maracanã.

FC Union Berlin supporters inside the stadium

View of Stadion An der Alten Försterei

1. FC Union Berlin Info

Full Name:1. Fußballclub Union Berlin e. V.
Rivals:Hertha BSC, SV Babelsberg 03, BFC Dynamo, Berliner AK 07
Founded:1966
Team Colours:Red and White
Club Mascot:Ritter Keule
Nicknames:Die Eisernen
Famous Players:Christopher Trimmel, Suleiman Abdullahi, Marcus Ingvartsen, André Hofschneider, Urs Fischer, Rani Khedira
Famous Managers:Urs Fischer, Uwe Neuhaus
Team Goalscorer:Jacek Mencel (66)
Most Appearances:Lutz Hendel (307)
Official Website:http://www.fc-union-berlin.de/
Team Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1._FC_Union_Berlin

Stadion An der Alten Försterei Seating Plan

Below is a seating plan of 1. FC Union Berlin's Stadion An der Alten Försterei:

Alte Forsterei Seating Plan

Stand Photos

Stadion An der Alten Försterei 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

1. FC Union Berlin Club Shop

Inerior of FC Union Berlin club shop

1. FC Union Berlin Club Shop

How to get to Stadion An der Alten Försterei

Where is Stadion An der Alten Försterei?


Frequently Asked Questions

Who plays at Stadion An der Alten Försterei?

German side 1. FC Union Berlin play their home matches at Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

What is the capacity of Stadion An der Alten Försterei?

As of 2024 Stadion An der Alten Försterei has an official seating capacity of 22,012 for Football matches.

When was Stadion An der Alten Försterei opened?

Stadion An der Alten Försterei officially opened in 1920 and is home to 1. FC Union Berlin

What is the postcode for Stadion An der Alten Försterei?

The postcode for Stadion An der Alten Försterei is 12555.

Are there any Covid restrictions at the stadium?

Covid Restrictions may be in place when you visit Stadion An der Alten Försterei in 2024. Please visit the official website of 1. FC Union Berlin for full information on changes due to the Coronavirus.