Rhein-Neckar-Arena

The story of PreZero Arena is inseparable from that of Dietmar Hopp, co-founder of software giant SAP, who grew up in Hoffenheim and poured his fortune into the village club he had supported since childhood.

Rise of Hoffenheim and stadium construction

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim spent decades in the lower reaches of German football. Sustained investment from Hopp starting in the late 1990s propelled the club through the divisions, culminating in a first-ever Bundesliga promotion in 2007. A modern arena was required to match this new reality. The stadium opened in 2009 with a capacity of 30,150, replacing the club's previous home, the Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion.

Naming history

The ground has carried three commercial names. From 2009 to 2013 it was known as Rhein-Neckar-Arena; between 2013 and 2019 it operated as Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena under a regional energy supplier's sponsorship. Since 2019 it has been named PreZero Arena after PreZero, the waste management division of the Schwarz Group (parent of Lidl and Kaufland).

Key milestones

The stadium witnessed Hoffenheim's rapid ascent: the club finished 7th in the Bundesliga in their debut season 2008/09. A historic landmark came in 2018/19 when Hoffenheim reached the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time, filling the arena for European nights that few had imagined possible for a club from a village of 3,000.

The atmosphere at PreZero Arena is coloured by the extraordinary story of a small-town club that rose to the top of German football and into Europe within a generation.

Fan culture

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim has a growing and passionate fanbase. Because Hoffenheim has only around 3,000 residents, the club draws its supporters mainly from Sinsheim and the wider Kraichgau region of Baden-Württemberg. The ultras group Kraichgauer forms the core of active support and leads chants and tifo displays on the north terrace. The presence of Dietmar Hopp as the club's patron has long symbolised a unique bond between a private investor and a community club — though his prominent role has occasionally sparked debate in German football culture more broadly. Local derby clashes against VfB Stuttgart generate some of the most charged atmospheres inside the stadium.

Big matches

The arena's most celebrated occasion to date was the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League group stage campaign, when Hoffenheim shared a group with Manchester City, Lyon, and Shakhtar Donetsk. Filling a capacity crowd for home European nights against top continental sides demonstrated that PreZero Arena can produce a compelling atmosphere despite its relatively modest size. Bundesliga fixtures against the top clubs of the Bundesliga have also generated memorable evenings at this compact venue in the Kraichgau hills.

Visiting PreZero Arena requires some advance planning, particularly for public transport, as Sinsheim is a smaller town. The reward is a compact, atmospheric stadium in attractive surroundings.

How to get there

• Train: Sinsheim Hauptbahnhof is served by lines from Heidelberg and Heilbronn; the stadium is roughly 20 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride; extra services run on matchdays
• Bus: Local bus services from Sinsheim town centre run to the stadium, with additional shuttle services added for match days
• Car: Excellent access via motorway A6 (exit Sinsheim); car parks are available in the stadium vicinity

Tickets and tours

Match tickets for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are sold through the club's official website and stadium box offices. Popular fixtures sell out in advance, so early booking is recommended. The club offers stadium tours that include dressing rooms, the players' tunnel, and stand access — schedules and prices are on the official website.

Visitor tips

• When to arrive: At least 60 minutes before kick-off to clear turnstiles comfortably
• Combined trip: Technik Museum Sinsheim with its rooftop Concorde and Tu-144 is just minutes from the stadium — ideal for a full day out
• Fan shop: Located within the stadium complex, open on matchdays and during the week
• North terrace: The standing section is the noisiest and most atmospheric spot in the stadium