Olympiastadion, officially named Olympiastadion Berlin, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Berlin, Germany. It is used mostly for association football matches, hosting the home games of Hertha BSC, its tenant.
Opened on 1 August 1936 for the Summer Olympics, it replaced the previous Deutsches Stadion which had 33,000 seats. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 74,475. The stadium was designed by Werner March and had a construction cost of 43 million Reichsmark.
A UEFA category four stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in Europe (the biggest in Berlin), Olympiastadion hosted several matches of the 1974 FIFA World Cup, including its final, as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and the 2015 UEFA Champions League Finals. It was elected as a UEFA five-star stadium in 2004. By its seventy-fifth birthday, Olympiastadion Berlin had welcomed more than 76 million spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the UEFA Euro 2024, which Germany is set to host.
The current stadium, known as the Olympiastadion, holds a significant place in the history of Berlin and Germany. A symbol of the city's past, the stadium was originally built for the 1936 Summer Olympics in the southern part of the Reichssportfeld (today's Olympiapark Berlin). It is a venue that has witnessed countless historical events, from Jesse Owens' groundbreaking victory to the infamous 2006 World Cup final. The name Olympiastadion is directly derived from its primary purpose of hosting the Olympic Games.
The Olympiastadion is located in the district of Westend, part of the borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. The stadium's address, Olympischer Platz, is a nod to its Olympic roots. Unlike the Estádio da Luz, the Olympiastadion does not have an unofficial name that has caught on with the public. It is universally referred to by its official name.
The stadium's distinct design, created by architect Werner March, is a testament to the architectural ambitions of the Nazi era. However, the Olympiastadion is much more than a relic of the past. After extensive renovations leading up to the 2006 World Cup, it has become a modern and multifunctional arena that hosts a wide variety of events, including football matches, concerts, and athletic competitions.
Home to football club Hertha BSC since 1963, the Olympiastadion has become synonymous with exciting football matches and fervent fans. It has a seating capacity of over 74,000, making it the largest stadium in Germany for international football matches. The stadium is also equipped with a warm-up field, a chapel, a VIP lounge, and state-of-the-art facilities for athletes and visitors.
The history of the Olympiastadion is a reflection of the city of Berlin's turbulent past and its subsequent transformation. It serves as a reminder of Berlin's resilience and its ability to reinvent itself while still preserving its history. From its inception for the Olympics, through the fall of the Berlin Wall, and into the present day, the Olympiastadion remains an enduring symbol of Berlin and Germany.
The Olympiastadion was constructed in a spacious area in the western part of Berlin, known as the Reichssportfeld. Initially referred to as the 'Deutsches Sportforum', its location on the boundary of the Charlottenburg and Westend districts made it a significant landmark.
Ownership of the stadium and its surrounding areas was a priority for the club, yet initially, the municipal territories were leased. It wasn't until 1969 that the club finally purchased the property. The initial blueprint for the sports complex was drafted in the late 1940s by Werner March, an esteemed architect of the time.
Inspired by the club's president, Otto Nerz, the associates shouldered increased fees to support the construction costs for the new stadium. They made substantial donations, and some even contributed their labor to the construction site on holidays or weekends. A 'cement campaign' was launched, which saw large quantities of cement bags donated to the club.
Construction officially commenced on 26 August 1934. Less than two years later, at a cost of 43,000,000 Reichsmarks, the stadium opened its doors to a crowd of 110,000 on 1 August 1936 for the inaugural Summer Olympics.
'Olympiastadion (1936)' (in German): Details about the history and architecture of the Olympiastadion, highlighting its role in the 1936 Summer Olympics. https://www.herthabsc.de/en/
'Olympiastadion (Das Olymp) – until 2003': Detailed history and overview of the Olympiastadion until the year 2003. http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/ger/olympiastadion
'Das Olymp leuchtet nicht aus, Prefácio, Prime Books, 2003': An in-depth analysis of the Olympiastadion, its significance and its role in Berlin's history. https://www.primebooks.pt/
'Hertha Berliner Sport Club 100 glorreiche Jahre - Die Geschichte 1, Edição e Conteúdos, S.A., 2003': A comprehensive history of the Hertha Berliner Sport Club and its association with the Olympiastadion. https://www.edicoesconteudos.pt/
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