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Niedersachsenstadion

HDI-Arena
AWD Eingang08.jpg
Former names Niedersachsenstadion (1954-2002)
AWD-Arena (2002-13)
Stadium Hanover (2005 FIFA)
FIFA World Cup Stadium Hannover (2006 FIFA)
Location Hanover, Germany
Operator Hannover 96 Arena GmbH & Co. KG
Capacity 49,200
Surface Grass
Construction
Opened 26 September 1954
Construction cost 82.8 million (for redevelopment)
Architect Schulitz & Partner Architects
Tenants
Hannover 96

The Niedersachsenstadion [ˈniːdɐzaksn̩ˌʃtaːdi̯ɔn] (Eng: Lower Saxony Stadium) is a football stadium in Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany, which is home to Bundesliga football club Hannover 96.

The original 86,000 capacity stadium was completed in 1954 and has since been rebuilt several times for various major football events. Today it has 49,000 covered seats. During the World Cup 2006 the stadium was named FIFA World Cup Stadium, Hanover.

Through a sponsorship deal, the stadium's official name is currently HDI-Arena [ˌhaːdeːˈʔiːʔaˌʁeːnaː]. Between 2002 and 2013 a similar arrangement saw the stadium renamed as the AWD-Arena [ˌʔaːveːˈdeːʔaˌʁeːnaː].

The stadium was built between 1952–1954, with an original capacity of 86,000. Huge amounts of debris from the houses in Hannover destroyed during World War II were used as the foundations of the stadium, with a total construction cost of 4 million Deutschmark. The stadium officially opened on 26 September 1954.

Hannover 96 moved permanently to the stadium from the Eilenriedestadion in 1959. Other local clubs, such as Arminia Hannover, OSV Hannover, TSV Havelse and Sportfreunde Ricklingen have also played matches there. In addition, the stadium has hosted numerous international matches, 4 (old) league championship games (1955,57,58,61), 2 DFB Supercup finals (1991–92) and 8 DFB Cup finals (1962, 63, 65, 70, 72, 75, 77, 79).


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