MHP Arena – construction description

What should the redevelopment of the stadium in Stuttgart look like?

The redevelopment project for the stadium in Stuttgart can be viewed on a separate subpage

As part of the modernisation planned before Euro 2024, the stadium in Stuttgart is to be rebuilt mainly in the lower part of the main stand, which will receive new, more extensive facilities. Underneath the stand, there will be new media areas, changing rooms, a kitchen and hospitality areas, including an exclusive “Tunnelclub” for 200 guests, from which it will be possible to watch the players in a tunnel leading from the changing rooms to the pitch.

Kiosks will be refurbished throughout the stadium, and pedestrian routes are also to be improved. The floodlights will be replaced by LEDs, photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roof structure and a new sound system will be installed. There will be 2,000 more standing places on the so-called 'Cannstatter Kurve', as well as additional spaces for wheelchair users.

The total capacity of the stadium will be reduced slightly, from 60,449 to 60,030 spectators. The cost of the works is expected to be around €130 million and will be covered jointly by the VfB Stuttgart club, the city and the stadium management company (Stadion Neckar Park KG).

How is the redevelopment of the stadium in Stuttgart progressing?

The redevelopment design was prepared by studio asp Architekten. Three parties applied for the tender, two of which eventually withdrew. The consortium of Züblin and ROM Technik became the main contractor. Work started in May 2022 (the ground-breaking ceremony took place on June 3).

Once the redevelopment started, some difficulties were encountered with the old foundations, which turned out to be in worse condition than expected. However, the builders benefited from a relatively mild winter. As sustainability is an important issue for the project, the construction work is being carried out in such a way that materials from the demolition of the old stadium elements are being reused.

Throughout the works, VfB Stuttgart is still able to play its matches at Mercedes-Benz Arena. Due to the reconstruction of the lower part of the main stand, seats in this area are not available, and the number of seats in the upper level of this stand has also been reduced to a small extent, so that the stadium capacity has been temporarily reduced from 60,449 to 47,500 spectators for the 2022/23 season.

From the start of the 2023/24 season, seats are to be progressively made available in the rebuilt part of the main stand. For the duration of the modernisation, the players' changing rooms are located in the SCHARRena hall, located just behind the stand behind the gate on the south-east side (the so-called "Unterthürkheimer Kurve"). Full completion is expected in early 2024, before the start of the spring round.

During the course of the work, the venue's title sponsor changed and on July 1, 2023 the existing name Mercedes-Benz Arena was replaced by a new one, MHP Arena.