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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.
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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.
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.
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