The 2024 European Championship is quickly approaching, and the chosen venues and cities are putting their preparations in place to welcome European football fans from all over the continent. Stuttgart will be a central hub during the finals, and the impressive Stuttgart Arena will host five big matches this summer.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the 2024 competition, and all eyes will be on the opening game in Munich between Germany and Scotland. Two days later, the Stuttgart Arena will see 2024 European Championship action for the first time. In this extensive stadium guide, check out the capacity, key facts, the games taking place at the arena, and why Stuttgart will be a top host in the 2024 competition.
Key Facts About the European Championships 2024 Arena in Stuttgart
The Stuttgart Arena, also known as the MHPArena, has been chosen to host five matches at the European Championship finals in 2024. The stadium is one of the biggest in Germany and features a unique fabric roof construction.
The stadium took four years to build, with work being completed in 1933. The arena was used by US troops for basketball games from 1945 to 1949. Since then, the stadium has undergone several renovations and refurbishments.
To make it just a football arena, the Unterturkheimer Kurve stand was demolished in 2009, with the job taking two years to complete. The stadium reopened in 2011 with a new capacity of 60,000.
Since the arena’s opening in 1933, VfB Stuttgart have been the tenants. The Baden-Wurttemberg club are among the most successful in Germany, winning the league title five times. Their most recent Bundesliga championship success was in 2007, as Stuttgart finished two points above Schalke to get their hands on the trophy.
The club have also been second-division champions twice; they have won three DFB-Pokals and were DFB-DFL-Supercup winners in 1992. They also have the joint record for most Intertoto Cup wins.
The Stuttgart Arena has hosted several high-profile football matches over the years, including games from the World Cup and European Championship. Also, the 1959 and the 1988 European Cup finals were held at the spectacular Stuttgart stadium.
Apart from huge football matches, the Stuttgart Arena was also used for the 1986 European Athletics Championships and the 1993 World Athletics Championships. It also hosted Eurobowl finals in American Football.
As a city, Stuttgart is a popular place to visit among tourists. It is the sixth-largest city in Germany and the capital of Baden-Wurttemberg. There are several places to visit, such as Castle Square, the Old Castle, and Mount Wurttemberg.
Stuttgart is one of the most vibrant and energetic cities in Germany, and the Stuttgart Arena is a special football stadium. Visiting fans will no doubt enjoy their time by the Neckar River.
Seating Capacity at the Stuttgart Arena
Since the arena has been used solely as a football stadium, around 60,000 fans pack into the venue to watch Stuttgart’s league games. However, that number will be cut to just shy of 55,000 for the 2024 European Championships.
Out of the ten Euro Cup venues for this summer’s tournament, the Stuttgart Arena will have the fourth highest capacity. Only the Olympiastadion, Allianz Arena, and Westfalenstadion will house more European football fans during the competition.
Terracing rules for international matches may reduce the capacity, but the Stuttgart Arena will still have a great atmosphere for all five games. During the four group matches and one knockout fixture, almost 50,000 spectators will be watching the action and cheering their nations on.
The Cannstatt Curve, behind the goal, is the main stand for diehard Stuttgart fans. The club supporters generate a tremendous atmosphere for home matches, and the international fans will be looking to follow suit.
With its superb infrastructure and unique fabric roof, the Stuttgart Arena is a stunning stadium to look at. The city of Stuttgart will play a big role in the 2024 finals, and the locals will give a warm welcome to the visiting football fanatics.
European Championship 2024 Matches to be Held in Stuttgart
In total, there will be five European Championship 2024 matches taking place in Stuttgart during the finals. After the four group fixtures, the Stuttgart Arena will host one of the quarter-finals.
Although England will not feature at the stadium, the Group C game between Slovenia and Denmark will be played at the venue. It will be the first 2024 Euro Cup match to take place at the Stuttgart Arena and the sixth match of the championships overall.
Germany will play one of their three Group A fixtures in Stuttgart. They kick off their home tournament with a game against Scotland at the Allianz Arena in Munich, and the matchup with Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19th will be their second game of the tournament. The Germans’ third and final match will be against Switzerland in Frankfurt.
Also in Group A, Scotland and Hungary will lock horns at the Stuttgart Arena on June 23rd. With the hosts expected to win the group, that could be a huge matchup in the race for the other automatic qualification place.
The last group game to take place in the sensational city of Stuttgart will be on June 26th. Belgium, who are one of the tournament favourites, will go up against the Path B winners of the play-offs. The Belgians will be eyeing up maximum points in the city.
There will be no Round of 16 game at the venue, but the Stuttgart Arena will be back to host the first quarter-final of the 2024 European Cup. The fixture will take place in the early evening of July 5th.
Gareth Southgate’s England could be involved in the opening quarter-final of the competition in Stuttgart. If they finish second in Group C and win their Round of 16 match in Dortmund, the Three Lions will play the winners of game 39 in Stuttgart in the last 16. However, England will be looking to avoid the Stuttgart Arena altogether by winning Group C.
This will be the second time that Stuttgart has welcomed European Championship matches. It was one of eight venues chosen for the 1988 championships, with the famous game between England and Republic of Ireland taking place at the stadium. Ireland picked up a memorable win thanks to Ray Houghton’s early goal. The Three Lions finished at the bottom of the group and were eliminated.
Games from the World Cups in 1974 and 2006 were also held in the Stuttgart stadium. In 2006, the third-place play-off between Germany and Portugal was played in Stuttgart. The Germans picked up the bronze medal with a 3-1 victory over the Portuguese.
Overall, the Stuttgart Arena will host four group matches, including Scotland’s game with Hungary. Germany will play at the Stuttgart Arena on June 19th, while the Hungarians face two Group A fixtures at the venue. Also, the first quarter-final will take place at the Stuttgart Arena, and 50,000 fans are expected at each game.
Betting on Football 2024 Matches at the Stuttgart Arena with Unibet
Anticipation is building for the 17th edition of the Euro Championships, and this summer’s tournament in Germany promises to be thrilling. Will a familiar face lift the cup in Berlin, or will we see a new name carved into the famous Henri Delaunay Trophy this July?
Germany are looking for their fourth European Championship crown. The Germans are one of the most successful sides in international football, and Julian Nagelsmann’s class of 2024 will fancy their chances of coming out on top on their own patch.
The Germans will play in Stuttgart on June 19th, which will be their second Group A game of the competition. If they can win against Scotland on matchday one, a positive result in Stuttgart in fixture two could see them safely through to the knockout phase.
Along with that game, you can bet on the other fixtures in Stuttgart as well as every single match taking place on German ground. We at Unibet have a comprehensive 2024 European Championship betting market before and during the tournament. Signing up is a breeze, and you can take advantage of our competitive odds and top Euro Cup offers right away.
Will it be England’s time to shine on the Euro stage? The Three Lions went close in the 2020 edition, reaching the final at Wembley Stadium. Old foes Italy edged the penalty shootout to break England’s hearts, but it was a huge step in the right direction.
The English have been on a rapid rise under Southgate over the past few years, and the current squad looks more than capable of roaring to cup victory in Germany. The likes of France, Spain, and Portugal will have other ideas, though.
The 2024 European Championship promises to be a glorious event on German turf. All ten cities are ready for Euro action, and Stuttgart will no doubt be a great place to visit for European Championship football tournament fans.