Weserstadion in 2015
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Full name | Weserstadion |
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Location | Franz-Böhmert-Straße 1,Bremen, Germany |
Capacity | 42,100 (League Matches), 37,441 (International matches) |
Field size | 105 × 68 m |
Surface | grass |
Construction | |
Opened | 1909 |
Renovated | 1963–1965, 1989, 2002, 2004, 2008-2011 |
Tenants | |
Werder Bremen |
The Weserstadion (German pronunciation: [ˈveːzɐˌʃtaːdi̯ɔn]) is a multi-purpose stadium in Bremen, Germany. The Weserstadion is scenically situated on the north bank of the Weser River and is surrounded by lush green parks (the name 'Werder' is a regional German word for "river peninsula"). The city center is only about a kilometer away. It is the home stadium of German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen.
It presented a bid to be a host city in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which was ultimately turned down.
Legendary artists that have performed at the stadium include Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Depeche Mode, Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Guns N' Roses, Tina Turner and Van Halen, among others.
The stadium originally included an athletics track, but that was partially removed in 2002 when the pitch was sunk by 2.1 metres and the stands at the straights were lengthened to the new pitch. With this the capacity rose with about 8.000 places. In 2004 four office towers were built behind the north stand. These towers offer a restaurant and offices for the club and local companies.
Starting in 2008 the stadium was completely rebuilt. The façade was coated with photovoltaic panels and a new roof was built on top of the old roof supporting structure (the old roof itself was torn down). Both ends (east and west) were torn down and rebuilt parallel to the endline of the pitch, removing what was left of the old athletics track.
A UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Gibraltar was scheduled to be played at the stadium on 14 November 2014, but it was later moved to Frankenstadion in Nuremberg after a clash between German Football Association and the State of Bremen over the cost of police.