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Merkur Spiel-Arena

Exterior view of Merkur Spiel-Arena
Former names	LTU Arena (2004–2009) Esprit Arena (2009–2018)
Location	Düsseldorf, Germany
Coordinates	51°15′42″N 6°43′59″E / 51.26167°N 6.73306°E / 51.26167; 6.73306
Owner	City of Düsseldorf
Executive suites	27 8 (event suites)
Capacity	54,600 (9,917 standing) 66,500 (concerts)
Field size	100 m × 70 m (330 ft × 230 ft)
Construction
Built	2002–2004
Opened	10 September 2004 (2004-09-10)
Construction cost	€240 million
Architect	JSK Architekten
Tenants
Fortuna Düsseldorf (2004–present) Rhein Fire (2005–2007) Bayer Leverkusen (2008–2009) KFC Uerdingen (2019–2020) Germany national football team (selected matches)
Website
merkur-spiel-arena.de

Merkur Spiel-Arena (stylized in all caps), previously known as the Esprit Arena (until 2 August 2018), the LTU Arena (until June 2009), and also called the Düsseldorf Arena (during the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest and the UEFA Euro 2024), is a retractable roof football stadium in Düsseldorf, Germany. The arena currently hosts association football team Fortuna Düsseldorf.

History

Construction of the stadium began in 2002 and was completed in 2004. It was built to replace the former Rheinstadion at the same site near the river Rhine.

The structure's initial seating capacity of 51,500 was expanded in summer 2010 when some seating areas were converted into standing terraces, and it currently holds 54,600.

The stadium has a retractable roof, as well as a heating system making it possible to comfortably host events throughout the year.

Sports events

International football matches

While the stadium was not one of the venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, it has hosted several international matches since it opened.

The first international match at the stadium was an international friendly between Germany and Argentina on 9 February 2005, ending in a 2–2 draw. On 7 February 2007, Germany played their second international friendly in the Arena, beating Switzerland 3–1. On 11 February 2009, Germany suffered a 1–0 defeat to Norway.

Portugal also played two international friendlies at the stadium. On 1 March 2006, Portugal recorded a 3–0 win over Saudi Arabia. On 26 March 2008, Portugal played their second international friendly at the stadium, suffering a 2–1 defeat to Greece.

In September 2022, the venue hosted a friendly between the United States and Japan.

UEFA Euro 2024

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

The following matches were played at the stadium:

Date	Time (CEST)	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Spectators
17 June 2024	21:00	Austria	0–1	France	Group D	46,425
21 June 2024	15:00	Slovakia	1–2	Ukraine	Group E	43,910
24 June 2024	21:00	Albania	0–1	Spain	Group B	46,586
1 July 2024	18:00	France	1–0	Belgium	Round of 16	46,810
6 July 2024	18:00	England	1–1 (5–3 pen.)	Switzerland	Quarter-finals	46,907

Other sports events

The stadium was the former home of the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, an American football league. They were tenants for their final three seasons from 2005 to 2007. The stadium hosted World Bowl XIII and XIV. Esprit Arena hosted the Race of Champions 2010, with notable drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost and Sébastien Loeb.

The Esprit Arena was the host venue for boxing world heavyweight championship bouts: between Wladimir Klitschko and Eddie Chambers on 20 March 2010 (Klitschko won the bout by KO in the 12th round), Wladimir Klitschko against Jean-Marc Mormeck on 3 March 2012 (Klitschko won by KO in the 4th round), Wladimir Klitschko against Tyson Fury on 28 November 2015 (see Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury (Fury won by a unanimous points decision).

In 2021, the stadium hosted the Championship Game auf the inaugural season of the European League of Football.

On January 10, 2024, the arena set a world record for hosting the biggest audience of a handball game with 53,586 spectators watching the game between Germany vs. Switzerland at the European Men's Handball Championship.

Music events

Naming rights

The naming rights to the stadium are currently held by gambling company Gauselmann.

From July 2009 to August 2018, the clothing manufacturer Esprit held the naming rights. Prior to July 2009, the German airline LTU held the naming rights.

Düsseldorf's mayor Dirk Elbers stated that, due to treaty obligations, the arena would lose its sponsor name and be renamed Düsseldorf Arena for the period of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 which was held there in May 2011.

Public transport

Merkur Spiel-Arena/Messe Nord is a terminus station of the Düsseldorf urban rail line 78, part of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR).

References

1. Esprit Arena Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
2. espritarena.de Archived 16 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
3. "Fortuna Düsseldorf 1895: ESPRIT arena" (in German). www2.fortuna-duesseldorf.de. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
4. "World record in handball: 53,586 spectators for Germany vs. Switzerland!". 11 January 2024.
5. "Boxscore – Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. 11 October 2008. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
6. "Coldplay – Tour History Report". Pollstar. 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
7. "Current Boxscore – Depeche Mode". Billboard. 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
8. "Current Boxscore – One Direction". Billboard. 2014. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
9. "Year-End Top 300 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Pollstar. 12 December 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
10. "Big Business & Small Struggles: Germany Returns to Full Strength". Pollstar. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
11. "Chart Scene: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Enter Live75 at No. 1". Pollstar. 9 August 2024. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
12. "Esprit-Arena heißt bald Merkur Spielarena: Fortuna Düsseldorf hofft auf Vorteile durch Stadion-Deal" (in German). Rheinische Post. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
13. "Neuer Namensgeber vorgestellt" (in German). www.ltuarena.de. 16 March 2009. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
14. "Sieben Live-Shows beim Eurovision Song Contest" (in German). Der Westen. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.

External links

• Media related to Merkur Spiel-Arena at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (in German, English, and Dutch)

51°15′42″N 6°43′59″E / 51.26167°N 6.73306°E / 51.26167; 6.73306

• Fortuna Düsseldorf
• Football venues in Germany
• Retractable-roof stadiums in Europe
• American football venues in Germany
• Buildings and structures in Düsseldorf
• Sport in Düsseldorf
• Convention centres in Germany
• Sports venues in North Rhine-Westphalia
• Sports venues completed in 2004
• 2004 establishments in Germany