Steigerwaldstadion | Events & Parking

The Steigerwaldstadion in Erfurt is a modern multifunctional arena in the south of the Thuringian state capital, surrounded by the green South Park and optimally integrated into the transport infrastructure. The arena combines sporting tradition with contemporary event technology and a clear service orientation: Around 18,500 seats for football, a dedicated tram stop, and the adjacent multifunctional building with a park hall and boxes make the location one of the most versatile venues in Central Germany. Home games of FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt, national athletics events, concerts, trade fairs, congresses, and public events alternate here. Particularly comfortable: The park hall on the east side is accessible for loading and unloading at ground level and is designed to be barrier-free, tram lines 2 and 3 stop directly at Stadium East, and with the nearby parking garage Am Stadion and the P&R Thüringenhalle, there are ample parking options available. Those planning or attending events benefit from short distances, clear signage, and an environment with other sports facilities such as the athletics hall, ice sports center, and Roland-Matthes swimming pool – all within walking distance in the South Sports Complex.

Events & Program Today at Steigerwaldstadion

The program at Steigerwaldstadion is intentionally broad and reflects the multifunctionality of the facility. The centerpiece is the home games of Rot-Weiß Erfurt: Depending on the competition and opponent, the stands fill with thousands of fans on game days, the atmosphere is dense, the arrival and departure are clearly organized, and the arena communicates access information, stops, and block recommendations for each game day. In parallel, the event calendar regularly presents public formats that showcase Erfurt's diversity: live lectures and special shows, high-profile congresses, industry-specific trade fairs, or sporting participation events. An example of the range: Between a state cup duel in football, a live show with a famous mountaineer, career and education fairs like vocatium, sporting long-distance formats like Adventure Walk or Megamarsch, and industry-specific forums (such as energy transition conferences), visitors find new occasions practically every week. Traditional formats are also represented: The established flea market in the evening in the park hall has established itself as a lively indoor flea event – protected from wind and weather, with catering on-site and ample parking space. For organizers, the arena is a flexible partner: The park hall can be used as the main hall, additional conference rooms and day boxes serve as workshop or backstage areas, and the interior of the stadium is integrated as needed for open-air productions or sports events. The official calendar provides up-to-date information on start times, entry and safety regulations, as well as links to further information from the respective organizers. Those planning last minute or wanting to drop by spontaneously should check the day's program overview and orient themselves with the signage on-site.

Access and Parking at Steigerwaldstadion (Public Transport, Parking Garage, P&R)

Accessibility is one of the arena's great strengths. The easiest way is by public transport: Steigerwaldstadion has its own tram stop on the east side. Lines 2 and 3 run frequently from Erfurt's city center (Anger) and the main train station directly to the Stadium East stop. To quickly find the entrances, the arena provides stop recommendations for each stand area on major event days: Visitors of the North Stand (blocks F–H) ideally use Tschaikowskistraße or Landtag/Stadion North; for the West Stand (A–E), the Humboldtstraße stop is recommended; the Thüringenhalle stop is suitable for the South Stand (O–U); for the East Stand (I–L), Tschaikowskistraße and Stadium East are recommended. An official site plan visualizes the block distribution, pathways, and tram stops – helpful for first-time visitors as well as regular guests heading to a different stand. Those arriving by car can best reach the arena from the A4 via the Erfurt-West exit and the L3004 towards the city center. From the Arnstädter Chaussee, follow the signage, turn onto Arndtstraße, and reach the entrance via Werner-Seelenbinder-Straße to Mozartallee. There are several parking options: In the South Sports Complex, the parking garage Am Stadion (Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Straße 2a) has 427 parking spaces, daily opening hours until 11:00 PM, and exit possible at any time. Payment is conveniently made at the machine via debit or credit card, cash, or smartphone payment with a registered credit card. Additionally, the P&R parking lot at Thüringenhalle with around 340 parking spaces is recommended – especially on game days. For organizers/VIPs, around 180 designated parking spaces are available on the east side directly at the multifunctional building; ten accessible spaces are located close to the main entrance, and the entire concept is designed to be barrier-free. Tip for public transport travelers: The ICE hub Erfurt Hbf offers fast direct connections, such as to Leipzig, Berlin, Frankfurt, or Munich, and with the tram lines, there is a seamless connection right to the stadium. This helps avoid waiting times and parking searches – especially during sold-out games or large fairs.

Seating Plan, Blocks, and West Stand: Finding the Best Seats

The official seating and location plan of Steigerwaldstadion clearly structures the arena into four sides with block letters. The West Stand contains blocks A to E – traditionally located on the long side with a very good overview of the game. The North Stand includes blocks F to H, opposite the East Stand with blocks I to L; on the south side, blocks O to U follow. This system facilitates orientation: Those with tickets for A–E ideally use the Humboldtstraße stop; for I–L as well as M and N, the arena recommends Tschaikowskistraße or Stadium East; for O–U, the Thüringenhalle stop is closest; F–H can be easily reached via Tschaikowskistraße or Landtag/Stadion North. The site plan not only serves for route planning but also helps with seat selection: On the long sides, the middle height of the West and East stands offers the best overall view, while diagonally seated fans often appreciate the proximity to penalty area actions at the transitions between long and curve stands. Standing areas and atmosphere-intensive zones vary depending on the game and security concept; the guest area is designated by the organizer (for football: Rot-Weiß Erfurt) in advance and clearly marked on-site. The arena also offers business and premium areas as well as accessible seats; the exact allocation is done through the respective ticketing. The multifunctional building on the east side integrates boxes and conference rooms with a view of the stadium and is used for hospitality on game days; on event-free days, it serves as a congress and event space. For concert or open-air setups, the optimal seat selection changes depending on the stage, sound system, and stand usage – common variants are stage positions on one long side with a central sound axis or frontal setups in front of a curve. In both cases, the published site plan helps decide whether proximity to the stage, axis view, or an elevated middle position with an overall view is prioritized.

Park Hall and Conference Rooms: Capacities and Equipment on the East Side

The multifunctional building on the east side of the stadium is the heart of the conference and event area. The central room is the park hall – a modern, daylight-capable hall with ground-level loading and unloading, spacious foyers, and flexible stage technology. Depending on the seating arrangement, the park hall accommodates about 250 to 650 people in parliamentary arrangement, up to around 1,100 people in row seating, and up to about 2,000 visitors standing. Thus, the space is suitable for conferences, meetings, award ceremonies, graduation balls, small to medium-sized trade fairs, galas, and indoor concerts. Additionally, there are connectable day boxes (ideal as breakout or VIP rooms) and conference rooms North and South; a press conference room can be booked separately. All areas are barrier-free accessible. The in-house catering (CCS) is TÜV-certified (DIN EN ISO 9001:2015) and optionally organic-certified; menu management and logistics can be precisely tailored to timings and visitor flows. The east side also houses VIP boxes with a direct view of the pitch – a unique feature that combines corporate events and sports experiences. For deliveries and crew vehicles, access is possible via Werner-Seelenbinder-Straße/Mozartallee; the pathways are short, loading heights and rolling distances are practical, which reduces setup and teardown times. An advantage for organizers is the modular use: The park hall can function as the main stage while other rooms can simultaneously host workshops or serve as artist, press, and production offices. In open-air concepts, the interior of the stadium can be combined with the conference axis (e.g., VIP reception in the park hall, show in the round). The official brochure shows typical setups, from concert row seating to banquet layouts to exhibition use, and lists the core facts: box seats, business seats, accessible entrances, photovoltaic systems on the stand roofs, LED-based building management technology, and a sustainable operational understanding.

Capacity, Equipment & Features of the Stadium

For sporting events, the Steigerwaldstadion accommodates around 18,500 spectators; the number varies slightly depending on the use of individual areas for media, security, or hospitality. In stand operation, business and premium seats as well as regular seating and standing places are available. For open-air productions with interior use, visitor sizes of up to about 30,000 are possible depending on the stage and security layout. A significant feature of the arena is the preserved athletics track – a plus for championships and school sports and simultaneously a planning peculiarity, as most comparable modernizations in Germany focus on pure football stadiums. The structural renewal from 2015 to 2017 brought the multifunctional east building with hall, boxes, and conference rooms, modern hospitality zones, as well as optimized pathways, entrances, and escape routes. Sustainability was also considered: On the stand roofs, there is one of the largest contiguous photovoltaic systems in Thuringia, and the arena is efficiently controlled via LED management technology. In terms of accessibility, wheelchair-accessible entrances, designated parking spaces near the main entrance, barrier-free sanitary areas, and seats in the stands are provided. The signage in the outdoor area, the clear block logic (A–U), and the assignment of tram stops to specific stands minimize search times – important during full occupancy. Convenient for guests with cars: The parking garage Am Stadion in the South Sports Complex offers 427 parking spaces, access is via Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Straße, and exit is possible around the clock. Via the A4 (exit Erfurt-West) and the L3004, one can quickly reach the stadium from the surrounding area; those wanting to avoid traffic jams can park at the P&R Thüringenhalle and transfer to the tram. For organizers and crew vehicles, dedicated capacities are available on the east side, and delivery is possible at ground level – a plus for lighting, sound, and stage trades. Together, this results in a coherent overall package of capacity, accessibility, technology, and service that serves sports, culture, and business equally.

History and Sporting Home: From the Marathon Gate to the Modern Multifunctional Arena

The roots of the Steigerwaldstadion date back to the 1920s: In 1927, the construction in the south of Erfurt near the Steigerwald was decided; on May 17, 1931, the facility opened as the Central German Combat Arena. Characteristic was the monumental entrance building on the east side, the so-called Marathon Gate. In the post-war period, the stadium was named Georgij-Dimitroff-Stadion, served as a venue for football, athletics, and mass events, and achieved enormous spectator numbers during top matches. With German reunification in 1991, the traditional name Steigerwaldstadion returned. In the 1990s and 2000s, gradual modernizations were implemented; the decisive step to its current form followed from 2015: For around 45 million euros, the modern multifunctional arena with a new east building, hospitality zones, and an optimized stand structure was created; it is noteworthy that the athletics track was deliberately preserved – a clear commitment to multiple use. The planning was overseen by, among others, HPP Architects, with construction and technology partners from the region documented as executing companies. Today, the stadium is the home ground of Rot-Weiß Erfurt and hosts a variety of events – from regional school sports to national championships to open-air shows. The integration into the South Sports Complex with athletics hall, ice sports center, and swimming pool creates synergies in arrival, logistics, and visitor guidance; the own tram stop connects the arena closely to the main train station and city center. In marketing, the operator Arena Erfurt GmbH focuses on diversity: The park hall addresses conferences and galas, the boxes connect business appointments with a view of the stadium, and the round is open for cultural and major sporting events. Overall, the Steigerwaldstadion is an example of how historical substance, urban infrastructure, and modern event logic create a regional flagship project – with short distances, high utility value, and a program that shapes Erfurt far beyond sports.

Sources:

• Travel & Accommodation – Steigerwaldstadion Erfurt
• Conferences & Events – Steigerwaldstadion Erfurt
• EVAG Site Plan Steigerwaldstadion – official PDF
• Parking Garage Am Stadion – Stadtwerke Erfurt
• Multifunctional Arena Steigerwaldstadion – Brochure 2018 (Erfurt Tourism)
• Steigerwaldstadion – StadiumDB (History, Capacities)
• Event Calendar – Steigerwaldstadion Erfurt