Dreisamstadion

The history of Dreisamstadion is inseparable from the rise of SC Freiburg from a modest regional club to a permanent fixture in the Bundesliga. For nearly seven decades, the stadium witnessed the most dramatic chapters of football in Freiburg.

Construction and opening

The stadium was constructed and opened in 1954, its location near the Dreisam river in the southeastern part of Freiburg giving it its enduring name. With a capacity of 24,000, it provided adequate surroundings for regional football, though it remained one of the more modest Bundesliga venues for many years. The ground was also informally referred to as the Stadion an der Schwarzwaldstraße, after the adjacent road.

Major renovations and naming changes

Over the decades the stadium underwent incremental upgrades modernising seating, facilities, and floodlights. Its official name changed in line with successive sponsorship agreements: from 2004 to 2011 it was known as Badenova-Stadion (after a regional energy company), from 2012 to 2014 as Mage Solar Stadion, and from 2014 to 2021 as Schwarzwald-Stadion — the Black Forest Stadium — evoking the picturesque mountain range on Freiburg's doorstep. Following the first team's move to the new arena, the ground reverted to its original name, Dreisamstadion, in 2021.

Notable moments

Dreisamstadion was the stage for numerous dramatic Bundesliga survival battles that embedded SC Freiburg in German football folklore as the quintessential 'promoted team that never quite leaves'. The stadium experienced repeated relegations and promotions, and European nights — particularly in the UEFA Cup during the 1990s — that brought continental competition to this compact riverside ground. The final Bundesliga match played here before the move to Europa-Park Stadion in October 2021 closed a chapter spanning nearly seven decades.

Despite its modest capacity and deliberately unglamorous character, Dreisamstadion in its Bundesliga era generated an atmosphere that was authentically compelling. The closeness of the stands to the pitch and the loyalty of the supporters created exactly the unpretentious but sincere backdrop that makes Freiburg football a distinctive phenomenon.

Fan culture

SC Freiburg is nationally recognised for a refreshingly grounded supporter culture. The club has long been associated with ecological and social values, and its fans take pride in an ethos of community and modesty that stands apart from the ambitions of the larger German clubs. The Dreisamstadion faithful supported their team through relegation seasons as readily as through Bundesliga campaigns, and that loyalty bound the community tightly through every division change. Active supporter groups produced consistent chanting and visual displays that, in the compact stadium bowl, reached the players without any amplification.

Big matches

The most memorable occasions at Dreisamstadion include Bundesliga relegation battles in which SC Freiburg fought for survival on final-day showdowns broadcast live across Germany. European fixtures — notably in the UEFA Cup during the 1990s — demonstrated that even a small ground beside the Dreisam could host credible continental football. The farewell match in 2021 before the move to Europa-Park Stadion was an emotional citywide goodbye, drawing a crowd that treated the occasion as a celebration of the stadium's long and honest service.

The stadium is now used for lower-division and women's football, making a matchday visit less complex to plan than during the Bundesliga era. Freiburg itself is a highly walkable and cycle-friendly city with strong transport links.

How to get there

• Tram: Freiburg's VAG tram network covers the southeastern districts; the nearest stops are on lines serving the Littenweiler quarter
• Bicycle: Freiburg is famous for its exceptional cycling infrastructure — the stadium is reachable along popular riverside paths beside the Dreisam
• Car: Street parking is available in the neighbourhood around the stadium; driving time from the city centre is approximately 10-15 minutes
• Train: Freiburg Hauptbahnhof lies roughly 4 km away; tram and bus connections complete the journey

Tickets and tours

Tickets for SC Freiburg II and SC Freiburg women's home matches are available through the club's website or at the ground; demand is far lower than in the Bundesliga era and tickets are generally available without advance notice. Organised stadium tours are not currently offered on a regular basis.

Visitor tips

• Combine with sightseeing: Freiburg's historic centre — with its Gothic Muenster cathedral and famous Muenstermarkt — makes the stadium easy to pair with a longer city visit
• Black Forest access: the stadium is the point of the city closest to the Schwarzwald; hiking trails into the mountains are reachable within 30 minutes on foot or by bike
• Parking: street parking around the ground is relaxed compared to the Bundesliga era; no specialist matchday parking management is in place for lower-division fixtures