Mercedes-Benz Arena (MHPArena), Stuttgart

The Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart boasts a rich and varied history that reflects its evolving role in both German and international sports. Originally constructed between 1929 and 1933, it opened its doors on July 26, 1933, as the Adolf-Hitler-Kampfbahn, hosting the German Gymnastics Championships. Initially accommodating around 35,000 spectators, its capacity was soon expanded to over 70,000 by 1935 through the addition of wooden stands, although these were dismantled three years later due to safety concerns.

Following World War II, the stadium underwent several name changes, from Century Stadium to Neckarstadion in 1949, reflecting a desire to move past its wartime associations. This period also saw substantial expansions that boosted its capacity to nearly 100,000.

Neckarstadion became a prominent venue in European football, hosting significant matches like the 1959 European Cup final and the 1962 Cup Winner’s Cup final. The 1970s brought further renovations, particularly for the 1974 World Cup, reducing its capacity to 70,500 but improving facilities significantly. The stadium played a crucial role during the tournament, hosting several matches including a second phase game.

In 1988, the venue again gained international attention by hosting a European Cup final and matches during the European Championships. The 1993 renovations transformed it into a more modern facility with a complete roof and mostly seated areas, subsequently leading to a name change to Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, reflecting sponsorship from Daimler-Benz.

The 2006 World Cup was a pivotal event, with the stadium hosting six matches. This period marked another significant renovation, particularly to the upper tiers. In 2008, a decision was made to convert the facility into a football-specific stadium, removing the athletics track and lowering the pitch to add new stands, bringing fans closer to the action and increasing the capacity.

The culmination of this transformation was the renaming of the stadium to Mercedes-Benz Arena in 2011, marking it as a state-of-the-art venue in the heart of Stuttgart, capable of hosting top-level international sports events and serving as a landmark of German sporting culture.

On 1 July 2023, the stadium was renamed the MHPArena.