RheinEnergieStadion, formerly Müngersdorfer Stadion (German pronunciation: [ˌʁaɪnʔenɛʁˈɡiːˌʃtaːdi̯ɔn] ) or Müngersdorfer Stadium, is a German football stadium in Cologne. It was built on the site of the two previous Müngersdorfer stadiums. It is the home of the local 2. Bundesliga team, 1. FC Köln. The stadium was one of eight stadiums to host UEFA Euro 1988, with USSR beating Netherlands 1-0 and Italy beating Denmark 2-0 in the group stage. It was one of five stadiums hosting both the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, hosted the 2020 UEFA Europa League Final behind closed doors, and was one of ten host stadia for UEFA Euro 2024. Local energy company RheinEnergie AG currently holds the naming rights to the stadium, hence it was known as the Stadion Köln for the final.

RaheinEnergiaStadium
Map
Former namesMüngersdorfer Stadion (1923–2001)
AddressAachener Straße 999
50933 Cologne, Germany
Public transitCologne Stadtbahn RheinEnergieStadion
OwnerKölner Sportstätten GmbH
Capacity49,698 (league matches)
45,965 (international matches)[2]
Field size105 m x 68 m
Construction
Broke ground12 October 1921 (1921-10-12)
Opened16 September 1923 (1923-09-16)
Renovated1972–1975, 2004
Closed2001
Demolished2001–2003
Construction costDEM 47.4 million
(DEM 22.9 million in 2021 Deutschmarks[1])
Tenants
Kölner BC 01 (1923–1947)
SpVgg Sülz 07 (1923–1947)
1. FC Köln (1948–present)
Cologne Centurions (2004–2007)
FC Viktoria Köln (selected matches)
Germany national football team (selected matches)
Website
https://www.rheinenergiestadion.de/
Building details
Map
General information
Renovated31 January 2004 (2004-01-31)
Renovation cost117.4 million
Renovating team
Architect(s)Gerkan, Marg und Partner
Structural engineerSchlaich Bergermann Partner
Services engineerHL-Technik
Main contractorMax Bögl

History

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Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the fortifications of Cologne were removed, thus allowing for the building of a new structure in the surrounding area. The new construction enabled the city to create 15,000 jobs. The new stadium was called the Müngersdorfer Stadion. This allowed Cologne not only to help stabilize the country but also to gain prestige and economic benefits for the city. The cost was tallied at 47.4 million Deutsche Mark.

Following the completion of the stadium, the city began to gain prominence in the domestic sports world. Many major football matches were held at the stadium in front of huge crowds. The first international match was held on 20 November 1927, when the Germany national team drew 2–2 with the Netherlands. Since then, the German team has played 19 times at the stadium, and only one of those matches resulted in a loss. Another notable match was the first post-war game, which saw 1. FC Nürnberg beat 1. FC Kaiserslautern 2–1, in front of a crowd of 75,000.

One of the specialties of the Müngersdorfer Stadion was the track meets for non-professional sportsmen. In 1929 there were over 38,000 participants. However, in 1933 Jews were no longer allowed to take part. After the war the stadium has only hosted professional level sports.

Recent matches of importance

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In 2005, the stadium was a venue for three first-round games of the FIFA Confederations Cup, including the opening match between Argentina and Tunisia. The game was won by Argentina 2–1.

The Müngersdorfer has been host to many important UEFA Cup matches. Bayer Leverkusen played against Barcelona, and Galatasaray against Monaco in the 1988–89 European Cup. Borussia Mönchengladbach played both Arsenal and Monaco in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup. The stadium also functioned as the home ground to second-tier Alemannia Aachen in their 2004–05 UEFA Cup campaign.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the 2020 UEFA Europa League Final was moved from the Stadion Energa Gdańsk in Gdańsk, Poland to the RheinEnergieStadion, to be played behind closed doors. Sevilla won the match, defeating Inter Milan 3–2.

Awards

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In July 2004, the RheinEnergieStadion was awarded a bronze medal for distinguished sporting and leisure facilities by the International Olympic Committee.

Concerts

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Kasalla at the RheinEnergieStadion, 2022.
list of concerts at RheinEnergieStadion[3]
Date Performer Event Attendance Ref(s)
As Müngersdorfer Stadion
4 and 5 July 1982 The Rolling Stones European Tour 1982 [4]
17 June 1983 Supertramp [5]
16 June 1984 Bob Dylan, Santana Bob Dylan/Santana European Tour 1984 [6]
19 July 1986 Queen The Magic Tour [7]
17 June 1987 U2 The Joshua Tree Tour [8]
3 July 1988 Michael Jackson Bad
18 June 1989 Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour
26 May 1990 Tina Turner Foreign Affair: The Farewell Tour
30 and 31 May 1990 The Rolling Stones Urban Jungle Tour
30 May 1992 Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion Tour
11 July 1992 Michael Jackson Dangerous World Tour
17 July 1992 Dire Straits On Every Street Tour [9]
18 July 1992
27 July 1992 Genesis We Can't Dance Tour
2 August 1994 Pink Floyd The Division Bell Tour
20 June 1995 The Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge Tour
27 July 1996 Tina Turner Wildest Dreams Tour
3 June 1997 Michael Jackson HIStory World Tour 60,000 [10]
5 June 1999 Wolfgang Petry Einfach geil... Open Air 1999 [11]
20 June 1999 The Rolling Stones No Security Tour [12]
28 July 2000 Tina Turner Twenty Four Seven Tour
20 June 2001 Bon Jovi One Wild Night Tour
8 July 2001 AC/DC Stiff Upper Lip World Tour
11 August 2001 Robbie Williams Weddings, Barmitzvahs & Stadiums Tour [13]
As RheinEnergieStadion
6 July 2005 Queen + Paul Rodgers Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour [14]
23 July 2006 The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang Tour
19 May 2009 AC/DC Black Ice World Tour 45,724 / 45,724
31 December 2009 Die Fantastischen Vier
29 May 2010 P!nk The Funhouse Summer Carnival Tour
13 June 2011 Herbert Grönemeyer
16 July 2011 Nina Hagen Brings Jubilee Concert
27 May 2012 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Wrecking Ball World Tour 40,417 / 40,417
4 September 2012 Coldplay Mylo Xyloto Tour 43,952 / 43,952 [15]
22 June 2013 Bon Jovi Because We Can Tour 42,476 / 42,476
15 June 2015 Helene Fischer Farbenspiel Live 74,000 / 74,000
16 June 2015
27 May 2016 Queen + Adam Lambert Queen + Adam Lambert 2016 Summer Festival Tour [16]
28 July 2016 Rihanna Anti World Tour
10 September 2016 Unheilig Unheilig Tour 2015 / 2016
5 June 2017 Depeche Mode Global Spirit Tour 42,032 / 42,032 [17]
3 July 2018 Beyoncé and Jay-Z On the Run II Tour 39,501 / 39,501 [18]
13 June 2019 Metallica WorldWired Tour 41,460 / 42,021 [19]
21 June 2019 Phil Collins Not Dead Yet Tour 41,460 / 42,021
22 June 2019
29 June 2019 Muse Simulation Theory World Tour 40,400 / 42,526
5 July 2019 P!nk Beautiful Trauma World Tour 77,313 / 77,313 [20]
6 July 2019
11 October 2021 Moop Mama Semester Kick Off 2021
4 June 2022 Die Ärzte Buffalo Bill in Rom Tour [21]
10 June 2022 Die Toten Hosen 40 Jahre - Alles aus Liebe [22]
17 June 2022 Kasalla [23]
2 July 2022 Iron Maiden Legacy of the Beast World Tour [24]
5 July 2022 Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers 2022–2024 Global Stadium Tour 39,394 / 39,394 [25]
9 June 2023 Muse Will of the People World Tour [26]
15 June 2023 Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour 41,166 / 41,166 [27][28][29]
8 July 2023 P!nk Summer Carnival [30]
9 July 2023
9 September 2023 AnnenMayKantereit Live 2023 [31]
20 July 2024 Travis Scott Circus Maximus Tour [32]

Renovation

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The stadium in 1997

There have been two renovations, from 1972 to 1975 and from 2002 to 2004.

In 1974, the World Cup was held in West Germany, and Cologne had wanted to be a host city. The city's bid was approved and it soon began work on a new stadium that was to replace the now outdated Müngersdorfer Stadion. However, the city was unable to raise the money needed for a stadium of the desired size. The original plan was for an 80,000-seat arena, which was planned to have cost 23.5 million Deutsche Mark. But the total kept growing. In the end, if the stadium had been completed, the cost would have amounted to 93.5 million. At the time, the city was able to provide only an extra 6 million Deutsche Mark.

Following the World Cup, Cologne still wanted the stadium completed. Hence, on 12 November 1975, a 61,000-seat arena was inaugurated with a match between 1. FC Köln and SC Fortuna Köln, 1. FC Köln winning 1–0. In this configuration the stadium hosted the UEFA Euro 1988.

With the news of the prospect of bringing the World Cup back to Germany, the city reacted and started renovation of the stadium, which was completed in 2003. Unlike previous configurations, there are no track-and-field facilities, allowing spectators to be much closer to the pitch than they might have been in a traditional continental multi-purpose stadium.

Facilities

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The capacity is about 50,000 people during club matches and 45,965 for international games, when terracing is not allowed. The entire field is lit with a floodlight system. In the north grandstand there is a museum dedicated to 1. FC Köln.

External dimensions

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Length 220 m
Width 180 m
Height to Roof 33.25 m
Roof Area 15,400 m2

2006 FIFA World Cup

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The stadium was one of the venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, due to sponsorship contracts, the arena was called "FIFA World Cup Stadium Cologne" during the World Cup.

The following games were played at the stadium during the World Cup of 2006:

Date Time (CET) Team # Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
11 June 2006 21:00   Angola 0–1   Portugal Group D 45,000
17 June 2006 17:00   Czech Republic 0–2   Ghana Group E 45,000
20 June 2006 18:00   Sweden 2–2   England Group B 45,000
23 June 2006 21:00   Togo 0–2   France Group G 45,000
26 June 2006 21:00    Switzerland 0–0 (0–3p)   Ukraine Round of 16 45,000
 
Panoramic view of the stadium

UEFA Euro 2024

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The stadium was one of the venues for the UEFA Euro 2024. However, due to sponsorship contracts, the arena was called "Cologne Stadium" during the tournament.

The following games were played at the stadium during the tournament:

Date Time (CEST) Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Spectators
15 June 2024
15:00
  Hungary
1–3
   Switzerland 41,676
19 June 2024
21:00
  Scotland
1–1
42,711
22 June 2024
21:00
  Belgium
2–0
  Romania 42,535
25 June 2024
21:00
  England
0–0
  Slovenia 41,536
30 June 2024
21:00
  Spain
4–1
  Georgia 42,233

Transportation

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The stadium is part of Sportpark Müngersdorf, adjacent to Aachener Straße. It is accessible by car via the Cologne Beltway, only some 1200 m off the Bundesautobahn 1. The Cologne Stadtbahn provides service at RheinEnergieStadion through the line 1.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 1500 to 1850: Ulrich Pfister, 2010. "Consumer prices and wages in Germany, 1500 - 1850," CQE Working Papers 1510, Center for Quantitative Economics (CQE), University of Münster. 1851-1882: Coos Santing, 2007, Inflation 1800-2000, data from OECD, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Economic Outlook. Historical Statistics and Mitchell, B. R. International Historical Statistics, Africa, Asia and Oceania 1750-1993 London : Macmillan ; New York : Stockton, 1998, International Historical Statistics, Europe 1750-1993 London : Macmillan ; New York : Stockton, 1998, and International Historical Statistics, The Americas 1750-1993 London : Macmillan ; New York : Stockton, 1998. After 1883, German inflation numbers based on data available from the Deutsches Statistisches Bundesamt archive and GENESIS database.
  2. ^ rheinenergiestadion.de
  3. ^ Concert, Archive (9 November 2023). "Concert History of RheinEnergieStadion Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (Updated for 2023) | Concert Archives". Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Queen, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd: Elf legendäre Konzerte im Kölner Stadion". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German). 26 June 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  5. ^ Pfenninger, Leslie J. "Supertramp Concerts | On A&M Records". www.onamrecords.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  6. ^ "1984 Europe Tour". bjorner.com. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  7. ^ "On This Day in Queen History - 19 July". brianmay.com. 19 July 2023. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Queen, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd: Elf legendäre Konzerte im Kölner Stadion". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German). 26 June 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Queen, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd: Elf legendäre Konzerte im Kölner Stadion". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German). 26 June 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Michael Jackson World Tour Ticket Stubs". Michael Jackson Official Site. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  11. ^ "WOLFGANG PETRY "Einmal noch!": Wolfgang Petry auf Platz 1 der deutschen Album-Charts!". Smago (in German). 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Queen, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd: Elf legendäre Konzerte im Kölner Stadion". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German). 26 June 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Weddings, Barmitzvahs & Stadiums | Robbie Williams Database". www.rwdb.info. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  14. ^ "On This Day in Queen History - 6 July". brianmay.com. 5 July 2023. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Coldplay Pollstar Tour History (2001–23).pdf". PDF Host. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  16. ^ "On This Day in Queen History - 27 May". brianmay.com. 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  17. ^ "CURRENT BOXSCORE". Billboard. 7 August 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  18. ^ "CURRENT BOXSCORE". Billboard. 7 August 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Metallica at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany on June 13, 2019 | Metallica.com". www.metallica.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  20. ^ "CURRENT BOXSCORE". Billboard. 7 August 2019. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  21. ^ "RheinEnergieSTADION | 04. Juni 2022: DIE ÄRZTE" (in German). January 2021. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  22. ^ "RheinEnergieSTADION | 10. Juni 2022: DIE TOTEN HOSEN" (in German). January 2021. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  23. ^ "RheinEnergieSTADION | NACHHOLTERMIN KASALLA KONZERT 17. Juni 2022" (in German). January 2021. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  24. ^ "RheinEnergieSTADION | NACHHOLTERMIN IRON MAIDEN KONZERT 02. Juli 2022" (in German). January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Live Archive". Red Hot Chili Peppers Live Archive. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  26. ^ "RheinEnergieSTADION | MUSE 2023" (in German). February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  27. ^ "Year-End Top 300 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Pollstar. 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  28. ^ "RheinEnergieSTADION | BEYONCÉ 2023" (in German). February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Beyoncé". Renaissance World Tour | Cologne, DE. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  30. ^ "RheinEnergieSTADION | P!NK 2023" (in German). 31 January 2023. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  31. ^ "RheinEnergieSTADION | AnnenMayKantereit 2023" (in German). 26 January 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Tour – TRAVIS SCOTT". www.travisscott.com. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
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  Media related to RheinEnergieStadion at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by UEFA Europa League
Final venue

2020
Succeeded by

50°56′1″N 6°52′30″E / 50.93361°N 6.87500°E / 50.93361; 6.87500