Holstein Kiel, a football club in northern Germany, is on the brink of significant changes following their recent success. As they look forward to participating in higher leagues, the Holstein Stadium must undergo substantial upgrades to meet new standards.

Stadium capacity, seating and lightning

Currently, Holstein-Stadion can accommodate approximately 15,000 spectators, with 5,239 seats. For the Bundesliga, the stadium must have at least 8,000 seats, posing a challenge since adding more seats might reduce the overall capacity below the required 15,000.

In Germany, the fashion for going to matches is very widespread and very often the stands are full. Although it will probably be the same in Kiel when the team plays in the Bundesliga, many fans are also looking for online entertainment. For this, they check the best sportsbooks reviews, so they can choose suppliers and offers.

The stadium's current lighting system, upgraded in 2009 to 1,200 lux, meets the standards for the second division. However, Bundesliga regulations demand an increase to 1,800 lux, necessitating further improvements to ensure adequate lighting for higher-tier matches.

© Holstein Kiel

Media, infrastructure and Holstein Kiel’s position

Another critical area requiring enhancement is media infrastructure. The number of press seats needs to increase from 65 to 112 to accommodate more journalists. Additionally, the stadium must double the number of parking spaces for media and expand the press conference room to hold 80 journalists, up from the current 40.

Holstein Kiel has yet to comment on the specific steps they will take to meet these requirements. It’s evident that substantial investment and careful planning will be essential to upgrade the stadium appropriately.

© Holstein Kiel

More than a century of stadium in Kiel

The stadium has been in existence since 1911, making it one of the older venues in Germany. Initially with one wooden stand, it underwent renovation and expansion in 1922 when it was destroyed by a tornado. In 1927, an athletics track was built and in 1943 the capacity was increased to 18,000 seats.

However, bombing during World War II partially destroyed the facility, forcing repair work in 1949-50, at which time the main stand, which still exists today, was built. The first match under artificial light was organised in 1957, when the stadium already had 30,000 seats, the vast majority standing.

It was only between 2006 and 2009 that two of the old arches (west and north) were destroyed and replaced by a cheap steel structure with seats and canopies. To the east, the last exposed arch remains.