The Merkur Spiel-Arena has gone through a number of name changes over the years, formerly being called the Esprit Arena, the LTU Arena and the Düsseldorf Arena. It is a multi-purpose arena found in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The capacity sits at 54,600 and there is a retractable roof on the building. There is also a special heating system that makes it an ideal venue for events even in the winter months.
History of the Merkur Spiel-Arena
The Merkur Spiel-Arena is relatively new, with construction beginning in 2002 and finishing in 2004. The reason for its construction was to replace the old Rheinstadion that was located on the same ground close to the River Rhine.
The initial capacity for the arena was all-seating of 51,500. This was then further expanded during the summer of 2010 after certain areas for seating were then converted into terraces for standing.
At the moment, the football team that plays its home games at the Merkur Spiel-Arena is the Fortuna Düsseldorf football club that plays currently in the second tier of German football.
Sporting events held at the Arena
There have been a number of international football matches held at the Merkur Spiel-Arena over the years, but on games in the 2006 FIFA World Cup took place at this stadium. The first international game came in 2005 between Germany and Argentina. Since then, there have been a handful of further international friendlies to take place at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
A number of other sporting events have also been hosted at the arena in recent years. The NFL Europe team, the Rhein Fire played their home games at the Merkur Spiel-Arena for three seasons. It has also hosted the World Bowl XII and XIV, as well as the 2010 Race of Champions.
Some of the notable games taking part in that race included Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Loeb and Sebastian Vettel. There have also been boxing world heavyweight title fights at this arena, including when Tyson Fury defeated champion Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015.
Music venue
As well as different sporting events, the Merkur Spiel-Arena is a popular host of concerts and other music events. Many notable acts have performed here over the years, including:
- Bon Jovi, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Madonna, Black Eyed Peas, One Direction, Paul McCartney, AC/DC and Beyonce.
Home team: Fortuna Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf is the football team that plays its home games at the Merkur Spiel-Arena. The team was started in 1895 and it played top-flight football for most of the first half of the 20th century. The team most recently played in the Bundesliga in 2020 before getting relegated in time for the 2020/2021 season. It won the German Championship on a single occasion, in 1933.
On two occasions, Fortuna Düsseldorf has captured the second-tier title, most recently in 2018. It also won back to back DFB-Pokal titles in 1979 and 1980. During this time, there were a lot of international players on the team. They also got the European Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1979. However, lost out to Barcelona in the final on an exciting scoreline of 4-3.
Betting on the football games
Fortuna Düsseldorf is one of those teams that bounces between the top few leagues. They can spring surprises, which means that their games are exciting to watch. This also presents plenty of betting opportunities. To have a look at the best betting sites that offer Fortuna Düsseldorf markets, you can have a look at the reviews on Roger.com.
These have been compiled by a team of experts, allowing you to quickly figure out what option is the best fit for you. Signing up takes just a few mantes, so you will be betting in no time.
