SG Dynamo Dresden plans to modernise the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion in order to better match ticket supply with growing demand. The new developments are expected to increase the number of seats for home fans, as well as improving the comfort for fans of the visiting teams.

High attendance figures in Dresden

Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, home of SG Dynamo Dresden, has enjoyed a high level of fan interest over the years. In the 2023/24 season, as many as 259,556 spectators turned up for the nine home matches, an impressive average of 28,840 people per game. No other club in the German third division can boast such a high attendance. By comparison, Arminia Bielefeld and Rot-Weiss Essen, two other teams with large fanbases, averaged around 17,000 spectators per game.

Despite the high attendances, not everyone chooses to go to the stadium; some prefer online entertainment. For some, it is betting or computer games such as FC 25. To create their dream squad in Ultimate Team mode, fans choose FC 25 coins, where players have the best prices and fast delivery.

Dynamo Dresden, however, sees further potential in increasing the number of tickets sold, as demand for stadium seats continues to outstrip supply. The problem, however, is league regulations, which require 10 percent of the stadium's capacity to be reserved for fans of visiting teams. In the case of Rudolf Harbig Stadium, this means around 3,200 seats, which often remain unused. The club therefore decided to act and announced a plan to upgrade the facility.

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Solving the problem of seats for visiting supporters

One of the key elements of the planned reorganisation of the stadium are the so-called Vario-Seats, which are folding seats that will be installed in the upper rows of the standing area intended for visitor fans. As SG Dynamo Dresden's managing director of communications, David Fischer, explained, The Vario-Seats will allow us to manage the seats for the visiting supporters flexibly. If there are fewer visitors, these seats can be made available to the home fans, increasing the overall capacity of the stands.

The idea is to make better use of the space in the stadium. Currently, many of the seats reserved for fans of visiting teams remain unused, especially in matches where the opponent does not attract large groups of supporters. With the new solution, these seats will be available for Dynamo fans, which should attract an additional 1,400 spectators to the stadium.

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Organisational challenges and economic benefits

One of the challenges of the project will be coordination with opposing clubs and the relevant authorities. As Fischer emphasised, before each match, we have to agree with the visiting club and with the security authorities and the DFB (German Football Association) whether the capacity of the visitor's sector can be reduced, allowing the stadium to be better filled.

From an economic perspective, the investment is likely to pay off quickly. David Fischer pointed out that if these extra seats can be sold for the three home games, the costs of upgrading the stadium will be covered. This optimisation of seating and standing places could significantly improve the profitability of the stadium.