More than a decade after the project was approved by the city of Jena, the new ad hoc Arena was officially opened on July 30, 2024, replacing the aging Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld. The road to completing the investment was long, and construction costs significantly exceeded initial estimates.

10 years of waiting

We are working hand in hand to ensure that FCC will one day play in the Bundesliga, announced Andreas Kuhn, managing director of stadium operator elf5 Jena GmbH, during the official opening ceremony. The residents of Jena can now enjoy a venue that matches the quality of Germany’s top-flight stadiums and even competes for the title of the best stadium of 2024. The renovated ad hoc Arena has been nominated for the Stadium of the Year award and awaits fans' votes.

The road to opening the new stadium was not easy, as FCC president Ralph Grillitsch also emphasized: The city's community needed some time to come to terms with it. However, I believe it was the right decision. For decades, the club fought for the construction of a new arena, and in 2015, the Jena city council finally approved the investment. Four and a half years later, construction contracts were signed, allowing the project to commence.

The new stadium in Jena project's completion took longer than expected, and the budget nearly doubled from €34 million to €58 million. Andreas Kuhn explained the reasons for the delays and cost increases: We signed contracts in March 2020. Shortly after, the pandemic hit, which halted progress and caused a sharp rise in prices. Then came the war in Ukraine, further driving up construction costs, especially for steel. Despite these challenges, the stadium director emphasized that completing the project was the top priority.

The appearance of ad hoc Arena and other stadiums nominated for the *Stadium of the Year* award can be seen in the video below:

The stadium has become significantly larger than initially planned, admitted Kuhn. Contrary to the original design, photovoltaic panels were installed, and the functional building was expanded by two additional floors. The new arena can now accommodate 15,426 spectators, with 11,397 seats occupied during the inauguration.

100 years of history

The opening match took place almost exactly 100 years after the stadium's first inauguration in 1924. FC Carl Zeiss Jena lost 1-2 to Genoa, but the result was secondary to the grand opening celebration. FCC president Ralph Grillitsch was visibly emotional: This could be a groundbreaking moment. We must make the most of it. We know where we come from.

Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld was built in 1924 on the banks of the Saale River, with its closest section just five meters from the water. For years, the facility belonged to the Ernst Abbe Foundation, named after the local entrepreneur and inventor who was its patron. The first major renovations took place only in the 1990s. In 1995, outdated floodlights were replaced, and two years later, the original wooden stands were substituted with modern seating sections. Now, a century after its initial opening, the stadium has been given a new lease on life as one of Germany’s most modern arenas.

© Broelinho | ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld