Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup Venues

FIFA World Cup Host Cities - FRANKFURT

Frankfurt city profile

"Franconovurd" was first mentioned in Charlemagne's deed of donation in 794. In 855 Frankfurt staged its first Royal election. No less than thirty-six kings were elected and ten German Emperors crowned here between 855 and 1792. Since the high Middle Ages Frankfurt has developed to become a powerful trade and congress city of European rank.

In 1749 Frankfurt's most famous citizen was born: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Between 1815 and 1866 Frankfurt was the centre of the "German Union" as the meeting place of the permanent Union Assembly. A month after the French Revolution in February 1848, German democrats demanded a constitutional National Assembly. On 18 May 1848 the delegates from all German countries opened the first free elected German Parliament at Paulskirche. Under Prussian administration, Frankfurt rose to become a large modern city.

During the Weimar Republic the city was a centre of the cultural and scientific avant-garde. In the following years Frankfurt on the Main developed into an international economic and financial metropolis. The city has been the seat of the European Central Bank since 1998. Almost a third of the inhabitants do not own a German passport. The immigration of people from countries around the globe shapes Frankfurt's international and multi-cultural character.

Frankfurt on the Main is a city which has won distinction for its liberal-mindedness, international orientation and enthusiasm for sports. Over 140,000 sportsmen and -women are actively engaged in 470 clubs. On the football scene, apart from the three Bundesliga teams - Eintracht Frankfurt, womenŽs teams 1st FFC Frankfurt and FSV Frankfurt - there are currently about 100 clubs with over 650 youth and senior teams in competitive leagues. Frankfurt on the Main is the headquarters of the German Sports Federation (DSB), the National Olympic Committee and the two biggest sports federations, the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Gymnastics Association (DTB), and thus is the hub of German sports organisations.

The city gained special reputation by hosting the Tennis World Championships (ATP Finals) from 1990 until 1995 and the Federation Cup between 1992 and 1994. Annual major events are the classic cycling event, "Rund um den Henninger Turm", an international show jumping event and the ETA Marathon Frankfurt.

• Site of the "1st International Labourers' Olympics" in 1925
• European Champions Cup semi-final in 1960
• Heavyweight boxing World Championship bout between title holder Muhammad Ali and the German European champion, Karl Mildenberger, in 1966
• 1974 World Cup
• UEFA Cup final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Munchengladbach in 1980.
• EURO '88
• World Bowl Final in American Football in 1998
• International football matche
• Home of Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt

Frankfurt stadium profile

• Group stage: 38,437
• Quarter-finals: 37,925

A minimalist supporting structure combined with a flood of natural light through the translucent roof provide the FIFA World Cup stadium in Frankfurt with a soaring, cathedral-like atmosphere. Work on the futuristic stadium began in mid-2002, resulting in a worthy successor to the “old” Waldstadion and its plethora of sporting memories, including the waterlogged semi-final between Poland and West Germany in 1974, and the Muhammad Ali vs Karl Mildenberger bout in 1966.

Most recently, the new arena hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005 Final between Brazil and Argentina.

Construction lasted from July 2002 to October 2005, with no interruption to the Bundesliga programme at the stadium and with careful regard for the historic character of the tradition-rich site. The city council approved the construction of a new stadium on the existing site in May 2000.

A total of 80,000 cubic metres of concrete and 12,000 tons of steel were used in the project. The underground car park boasts an impressive 1,800 spaces. The steel girders and ropes used for the roof weigh some 2,500 tonnes, the 30-tonne video cube incongruously lightweight by comparison.

The Waldstadion is home to Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, whose best-known former players Bernd Hölzenbein and Jürgen Grabowski represent the city as FIFA World Cup Ambassadors.

As part of the Green Goal environment initiative, the stadium features a vast rainwater collection and drainage facility. Alongside construction costs of €126 million, a further €45 million has been invested in the local road and rail infrastructure.

Financing:
€64m from the city of Frankfurt, €20.5m from the state of Hessen, €41.5m capital loan.

(*) "Total Seating Capacity" means the Gross Capacity less the seats unavailable for use due to restricted views and security/contingency reserves for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. This capacity is estimated and may change once these deductions are finally determined.
(**) "Purchasable Ticket Capacity" means the Total Seating Capacity less tickets reserved for the media and press, VIP requirements and complimentary tickets. This capacity is based on maximum media requirements and may change once these requirements are finally determined.