Merkur Spiel-Arena (stylized in all caps), previously known as the Esprit Arena (until 2 August 2018), the LTU Arena (until June 2009), and also called the Düsseldorf Arena (during the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest and the UEFA Euro 2024), is a retractable roof football stadium in Düsseldorf, Germany. The arena currently hosts association football team Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Construction of the stadium began in 2002 and was completed in 2004.[citation needed] It was built to replace the former Rheinstadion at the same site near the river Rhine.
The structure's initial seating capacity of 51,500 was expanded in summer 2010 when some seating areas were converted into standing terraces, and it currently[when?] holds 54,600.[3]
The stadium has a retractable roof, as well as a heating system making it possible to comfortably host events throughout the year.
While the stadium was not one of the venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, it has hosted several international matches since it opened.
The first international match at the stadium was an international friendly between Germany and Argentina on 9 February 2005, ending in a 2–2 draw. On 7 February 2007, Germany played their second international friendly in the Arena, beating Switzerland 3–1. On 11 February 2009, Germany suffered[tone] a 1–0 defeat to Norway.
Portugal also played two international friendlies at the stadium. On 1 March 2006, Portugal recorded a 3–0 win over Saudi Arabia.[citation needed] On 26 March 2008, Portugal played their second international friendly at the stadium, suffering[citation needed] a 2–1 defeat to Greece.
In September 2022, the venue hosted a friendly between the United States and Japan.
The stadium was one of the venues for the UEFA Euro 2024. However, due to sponsorship contracts, the arena was called "Düsseldorf Arena" during the tournament.
The following matches were played at the stadium:
The stadium was the former home of the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, an American football league.[citation needed] They were tenants for their final three seasons from 2005 to 2007.[citation needed] The stadium hosted World Bowl XIII and XIV. Esprit Arena hosted the Race of Champions 2010, with notable drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost and Sébastien Loeb.
The Esprit Arena was the host venue for boxing world heavyweight championship bouts: between Wladimir Klitschko and Eddie Chambers on 20 March 2010 (Klitschko won the bout by KO in the 12th round), Wladimir Klitschko against Jean-Marc Mormeck on 3 March 2012 (Klitschko won by KO in the 4th round), Wladimir Klitschko against Tyson Fury on 28 November 2015 (see Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury (Fury won by a unanimous points decision).
In 2021, the stadium hosted the Championship Game auf the inaugural season of the European League of Football.
On January 10, 2024, the arena set a world record for hosting the biggest audience of a handball game with 53,586 spectators watching the game between Germany vs. Switzerland at the European Men's Handball Championship.[4]
The naming rights to the stadium are currently[when?] held by gambling company Gauselmann.[12]
From July 2009 to August 2018, the clothing manufacturer Esprit held the naming rights.[13] Prior to July 2009, the German airline LTU held the naming rights.
Düsseldorf's mayor Dirk Elbers stated that, due to treaty obligations, the arena would lose its sponsor name and be renamed Düsseldorf Arena for the period of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 which was held there in May 2011.[14]
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Merkur Spiel-Arena/Messe Nord is a terminus station of the Düsseldorf urban rail line 78, part of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR).[citation needed]
Media related to ESPRIT arena at Wikimedia Commons51°15′42″N 6°43′59″E / 51.26167°N 6.73306°E / 51.26167; 6.73306
