Auestadion

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Auestadion is a multi-use stadium in Kassel, Germany, near Karlsaue park. It mainly hosts football and track events and is the home ground of KSV Hessen Kassel. The stadium holds 18,737 people (about 8,700 seats) and is the largest stadium in Northern Hesse. Its address is Frankfurter Str. 143, and it’s accessible by tram (Auestadion stops on lines 5 and 6, and RegioTram RT5). The City of Kassel owns it.

Key facts
- Opened: 23 August 1953
- Built: 1950–1953 (grandstand foundations used debris from WWII)
- Capacity: 18,737 (8,700 seated)
- Surface: Grass; running track around the pitch
- Notable features: cantilevered roof on the main grandstand, media area, and later upgraded facilities
- Tenants: KSV Hessen Kassel (since 1953)

A brief history
- The stadium was opened in 1953 with a match between KSV Hessen Kassel and Viktoria Aschaffenburg. Athletics facilities were completed in 1956.
- Auestadion hosted two DFB-Pokal finals (1958 and 1959) and drew a record crowd of about 37,000 in a 1964 Bundesliga promotion playoff.
- In 1965, it hosted part of the European Cup Athletics event.
- The site has hosted major local events, including Hessentag festivals and large concerts, as well as national and international athletics meets.

Renovations and upgrades
- 1983–1993: Two new western stands were added, upgrades to the running track, and improved athletics facilities.
- 2003–2010: The east stand was rebuilt with a new roof and 4,700 seats, plus extra terracing and a new tunnel. From 2007–2009, the running track was expanded to eight lanes and floodlights were upgraded. The main grandstand was found to be in poor condition, so a plan to replace it was approved.
- 2009–2010: The old grandstand was demolished and a new one built, increasing total capacity to 18,737. The new grandstand opened on 24 October 2010.
- 2011: A 72-square-meter video wall was installed.

Other notes
- Auestadion hosted the German Athletics Championships in 2011 and 2016.
- The venue has seen international football and athletics events, and it remains the home of KSV Hessen Kassel.