The stadiums for EURO 2024 are already selected, and as many observant fans have noted, they are almost the same arenas used for the 2006 World Cup. Almost, because only 3 venues that hosted the tournament 17 years ago were left out before the upcoming EURO. One of them is the stadium in Hannover.

Hannover stadium among Germany's new venues for 2006 World Cup

The selection of the host of the 2006 World Cup was made by FIFA in Zurich in July 2000. The decision was not easy, as four countries applied to host the tournament (Brazil withdrew a few days before the vote itself): England, Germany, South Africa and Morocco. As many as three rounds of voting were needed to determine the winner. In the first, Germany received 10 votes ahead of second-placed South Africa (6). Morocco dropped out. In the second, South Africa and Germany each received 11 votes, and England was eliminated. And only in the third, with two candidates to choose from, members of the Executive Committee decided on Germany with the lowest possible difference of votes - 12 to 11.

In total, Germany spent about €780 million on new stadiums. The cheapest facility built from scratch was the Heinz von Heiden-Arena in Hannover (€82m), and the second cheapest was the Zentralstadion in Leipzig (€90m). Cologne, Hannover, Leipzig and Frankfurt replaced older venues standing on the same site, while in Munich the famous Allianz Arena was erected on the outskirts of the city. The stadium, which is lit up at night and has a roof with variable light transmission, also proved to be the most expensive venue of the entire event, costing as much as €340 million. However, fans attend these stadiums all the time, gathering in crowds at Bundesliga matches, among others. This will soon be the case at the European Championships as well, and fans are interested in the tournament on many levels. They use EURO 2024 Odds | UKClubSport where they can find the full schedule for the UEFA European Championship, the best odds for upcoming events, and predictions.

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Hanover stadium not selected as EURO venue

There are 3 stadiums in Germany which, although used in the 2006 World Cup, are not among the venues for the EURO. One of them is the Heinz von Heiden-Arena in Hannover. Another arena was built on the site of the current venue as early as 1954, but the stadium owes its present look to construction that began in 2003.

Approximately 75% of the old structure was destroyed, leaving only part of the western, main stand. The pitch was squatted to it and later new stands were built around it. The largely uncovered, oval-shaped stadium with a running track was transformed in 2003-04 into a modern, fully covered facility with a typical football stand layout. In 2009, the venue joined the small group of stadiums where a funeral was held. In the stands, which were packed to the limit, fans bid farewell to goalkeeper Robert Enke, who had committed suicide.

© Stephan Hoogerwaard