The Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart will be modernised for the 2024 European Championship. The municipal council gave the go-ahead on Thursday.
The municipal council approved the increased budget for the modernisation and thus investment measures amounting to 97 million euros, according to a spokesperson for the city. This is to bring the home ground of VfB Stuttgart up to date before the 2024 European Football Championship. A further 1.5 million euros are to be invested in a photovoltaic system in the roof area.
This will increase the construction budget by 27.5 million euros. Half of the costs are borne by the city of Stuttgart and half by Stadion NeckarPark GmbH & Co. KG. The state capital is now contributing a total of 37.5 million euros to the construction measures.
With the reconstruction of the main stand, the last component in the stadium, which was still built on the old earth wall, is to be renewed. The construction work will reportedly begin after the current Bundesliga season and last until the beginning of 2024.
The stadium, which was built in 1933 on the Cannstatter Wasen, has been repeatedly modernised and expanded in recent years. Most notable: the construction of the famous membrane roof in the early 1990s for the World Championships in Athletics and the conversion into a pure football stadium in 2011. 60,449 spectators can now be seated in the Mercedes-Benz Arena, which will be one of ten venues for the 2024 European Championships.
