If we had any question about Bernabéu before the competition, it was by how many points it would win, not what place it would take. Well, German fans had other plans. Ad hoc arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld secured 15,329 points, surpassing Real Madrid’s stadium by 248 points.

Best stadiums opened in 2024

Your votes have decided! A total of 9,750 valid votes were cast in this year’s competition, and the race was incredibly close. Ultimately, the German ad hoc arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld took first place with 15,329 points, just 300 points ahead of Spain’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, which finished second.

The podium was completed by Algeria’s Stade Hocine Aït Ahmed in Tizi Wuzu. The top five also included two other stadiums: Stade Ali la Pointe in Douera and Argentina’s Más Monumental. See the full results of Stadium of the Year 2024.

Stadium	Points
1. ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld	15,329
2. Estadio Santiago Bernabéu	15,081
3. Stade Hocine Aït Ahmed	13,604
4. Stade Ali la Pointe	10,348
5. Más Monumental	7,966

A sensational victory for the stadium in Jena

Few expected such an outcome – ad hoc arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld, the new stadium of Carl Zeiss Jena, has won the Stadium of the Year 2024 title, defeating even the legendary Santiago Bernabéu!

Although Carl Zeiss Jena currently plays in Germany’s fourth division, it remains one of the most successful clubs from East Germany. They were DDR-Oberliga champions, three-time cup winners, and one of the few teams from the region that made an impact in European competitions. In 1981, they reached the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final, narrowly losing to Dinamo Tbilisi.

During those years, they competed with the biggest clubs in Europe, and their stadium – Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld – hosted thousands of fans. Interestingly, this is where Jan Železný set the javelin throw world record in 1996, a record that still stands today.

© elf5 Jena GmbH

The modern ad hoc arena – a stadium of the future

The stadium in Jena has undergone a massive transformation – Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld has been redeveloped into the modern ad hoc arena, winning the hearts of fans worldwide. The new venue offers 15,000 seats, a fully covered structure, and excellent facilities for both players and spectators. This is a place where modernity meets tradition – the stadium still sits by the Saale River, where Carl Zeiss Jena experienced its greatest triumphs.

© Roman Möbius, elf5 Jena GmbH (CC BY-SA 3.0)

A return to glory days?

Despite difficult years, Carl Zeiss Jena’s Stadium of the Year victory proves that the club still evokes emotions and is not destined to be forgotten. With new infrastructure and strong fan support, the club has a solid foundation for returning to higher-level professional football in the future.

Congratulations to Carl Zeiss Jena and everyone involved in creating this outstanding venue! After all, football is more than just big money and top brands – it’s about history, passion, and the dedication of people who love the game.

Thank you all for voting and supporting stadiums around the world. See you next year!