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Don't be confused by all the different names! As you head for the stadium in Cologne, you may see signs to the RheinEnergieStadion, the Müngersdorfer Stadion and the FIFA World Cup Stadium Cologne ... but they are all one and the same! |
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| aka FIFA World Cup Stadium Cologne |
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Müngersdorf stadium
The first stadium on this site bore the name of this part of Cologne: Müngersdorf. That was built in 1923 and reconstructed in 1975, becoming at that time Germany's only completely covered stadium. The current stadium, the RheinEnergieStadion (named after its sponsor, the regional energy utility company) was completed in 2003. However, as FIFA will not allow stadia to use their sponsored names for the World Cup, it will be known during the tournament as the FIFA World Cup Stadium Cologne.
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| A proper football ground - no running track! |
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1 FC Cologne
The stadium is owned by Cologne Stadia Ltd, with the principal tenant being 1 FC Cologne. Neighbouring Alemannia Aachen have also used it for UEFA Cup matches, and since 2004, American football has also been played here, with the Cologne Centurions using the ground for their games in the NFL Europe. |
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Capacity
Capacity for Bundesliga games is just under 51,000. For the World Cup, when the terraces at either end will be converted to seating it is estimated that it will be just over 40,000.
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Surrounded by green
The stadium is surrounded by further sports fields and sporting facilities, including a velodrome, several football pitches, an open-air swimming pool a show jumping arena and the training grounds of Cologne Athletics Club.
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| From one of the many adjacent pitches |
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Stadium tours
Guided tours around the stadium are provided on non-match days. You have to call them and arrange a time in advance. Naturally these are normally in German, but if there is a group of you and you ask if they can do it in English, you never know ...! Details (in German) here or call them on +49 (0)221 71616104 (but expect them to answer in German!).
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| The Rhein Energie Stadium at night |
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Football museum
1 FC Cologne's football museum is located under the North Stand. Admission (2005) is 2 euros. Open Monday to Sunday 10am to 6pm (excluding matchdays) and up to around 30 minutes before kick-off on matchdays (plus for around 45 minutes after afternoon games). |
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Location
The stadium is several miles out of town near the 'Cologne West' motorway intersection (of the A1 and A4) and is best reached by car (see Cologne by road) or public transport (see City centre to stadium). Map of stadium area. See also our route planner.
Parking
Parking facilities are being improved for the World Cup. Regularly updated details are provided on a special parking sub-section of the stadium's website. It's all in German but nevertheless very easy to follow. All you need to know is that "Bitte wählen Sie einen Parkbereich" means 'Please select an area to park', 'Bitte wählen Sie einen Parkplatz' means 'Please select a car park' and "Die Parkplatzzufahrten und Fusswege zum Stadion sind ausgechildert" means 'Approach routes to the car parks and footpaths to the stadium are signposted'. |
