Merkur Spielarena (stylized as MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA), previously known as the Esprit Arena (until 2 August 2018), the LTU Arena (until June 2009), and as the Düsseldorf Arena (during the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest), is a multi-functional football stadium in Düsseldorf, Germany. The arena currently hosts association football team Fortuna Düsseldorf.
History
Construction of the stadium began in 2002 and was completed in 2004. 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 holds 54,600. The stadium has a retractable roof, as well as a heating system to host comfortable events at the height of winter.
Sports events
International football matches
While the Arena 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 in the Arena 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. In their third international friendly in the Arena, on 11 February 2009, Germany suffered a 1–0 defeat to Norway.
The Arena also hosted two international friendlies of the Portugal national football team. In Portugal's first international friendly in the Arena, on 1 March 2006, they recorded a 3–0 win over Saudi Arabia. On 26 March 2008, Portugal played their second international friendly in the Arena, suffering a 2–1 defeat to Greece national football team. In September 2022 it hosted a friendly between USMNT & Japan.
UEFA Euro 2024
The stadium will be one of the venues for the UEFA Euro 2024. However, due to sponsorship contracts, the arena will be called "Düsseldorf Arena" during the tournament.
The following matches will be played at the stadium:
Other sports events
The stadium was the former home of the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, an American football league. They were tenants for their final three seasons from 2005 to 2007. 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.
The arena will also host the opening and closing ceremonies of 2025 Summer World University Games and is scheduled to host the basketball, 3x3 basketball and volleyball events.
Music events
German Singer Herbert Grönemeyer opened the arena with two concerts on 7 and 8 January 2005 as conclusion of his Mensch-Tour. On 8 June 2011, he returned with his Schiffsverkehr Tour.
The German rock band Die Toten Hosen, which is based in Düsseldorf, gave a total of seven concerts in the arena. The first one on 10 September 2005 as last concert of their Friss Oder Stirb Tour. They returned to the homeground of their favourite football team for two more concerts on 11 and 12 October 2013 as final of their Krach der Republik Tour. The next two concerts were on 12 and 13 October 2018 as part of their Laune der Natour. The two most recent concerts were on 24 and 25 June 2022 as part of their 40 years Anniversary Tour.
Phil Collins played the arena four times: First as a solo artist during his First Final Farewell Tour on 12 and 13 November 2005 and then again with his band Genesis during their Turn It On Again Tour on 26 and 27 June 2007 in a sold-out crowd of 88,397 fans in attendance.
Another German singer Marius Müller-Westernhagen played a concert at the arena on 2 December 2005.
British Rock band The Rolling Stones played the arena three times: First on 12 August 2007 during the Bigger Bang Tour, then again on 19 June 2014 as part of the 14 On Fire Tour and on 9 October 2017 during the No Filter Tour.