Red Bull Arena (Leipzig)

The story of this Leipzig site spans seven decades and two structurally distinct stadiums, the newer one built literally inside the shell of the older one.

The original Zentralstadion (1956)

The first Zentralstadion opened in 1956 as a multi-purpose athletics and football arena with a capacity approaching 100,000 spectators. Built on the site of an earlier Leipzig stadium dating to 1931, it was one of the largest stadiums in Eastern Europe during the era of the German Democratic Republic. After German reunification, the deteriorating structure proved incompatible with modern football requirements and fell into disrepair during the 1990s.

New stadium inside the old (2004)

The solution adopted was architecturally striking: a completely new modern stadium was constructed inside the preserved earthwork bowl of the old Zentralstadion. The new arena opened in 2004 under the name Zentralstadion, while the original outer ramparts were retained as part of the wider site. Construction cost approximately 90 million euros and was designed by gmp (Gerkan, Marg and Partners), architects behind several other major German football venues.

Renaming to Red Bull Arena (2010)

In 2010, RB Leipzig took over the stadium as their home ground and it was renamed Red Bull Arena under Bundesliga commercial naming rules. The renaming coincided with the club's rapid rise from the fifth tier of German football to the Bundesliga in just six seasons, transforming the venue's identity entirely.

Red Bull Arena occupies a distinctive and sometimes contested place in German football culture, pitting the traditions of the sport against the commercial model of one of Europe's fastest-growing clubs.

Fan culture

RB Leipzig has faced consistent opposition from ultras across Germany who object to the club's corporate structure, but inside Red Bull Arena the ground is regularly sold out. The fanbase skews younger than most Bundesliga clubs and includes a strong family contingent, producing a lively and colourful atmosphere. An active supporter section behind the goal drives chanting throughout matches, including European nights in the Champions League. Red and white — the Red Bull colours — dominate the stands on every matchday.

Big matches

RB Leipzig reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2019-20, played in the unique Final Eight bubble format in Lisbon — the club's best European result. At home, supporters have experienced memorable Champions League and Europa League knockout nights. The stadium's enclosed inner bowl, surrounded by the earthwork of the old Zentralstadion, creates an acoustically tight and intimate atmosphere compared to larger open German arenas, heightening the intensity of major fixtures.

Red Bull Arena is well integrated into Leipzig's public transport network and straightforward to reach from the city centre.

How to get there

• Tram: Line 11, stop Sportforum Ost, or line 9 — direct from Leipzig city centre in approximately 15 minutes
• Car: Close to motorways A9 and A14; car parks around the stadium fill up early on matchdays
• On foot: About 10 minutes' walk from the tram stop along a marked route; the parkland setting of the historic Zentralstadion ramparts makes the approach pleasant

Tickets and tours

Match tickets for RB Leipzig are available through the club's official website. Champions League fixtures and high-profile Bundesliga matches sell out quickly. Stadium tours are on offer, covering the players' tunnel, dressing rooms, and the unique inner arena construction within the earthwork shell of the 1956 Zentralstadion.

Visitor tips

• When to arrive: At least 45 minutes before kick-off; the tram stop is close to the main entrance
• The surroundings: The preserved outer embankment of the original Zentralstadion is worth exploring — a rare surviving monument of East German sporting heritage
• Food and drink: Concession stands inside the arena cover the basics; Leipzig city centre offers a much wider choice for pre-match dining