Iconic venues in Germany host historic championship

With European football fans’ attention firmly fixed on Germany for the UEFA European Championship, Tenderstream member gmp is particularly focused on two stadiums hosting 10 matches between them. In 2001, gmp won the competition to design the new RheinEnergie Stadium in Cologne, while the firm are also responsible for the 2006 renovation of Waldstadion in Frankfurt, which has undergone extensive re-modelling since its construction a hundred years ago.

The Waldstadion – set to host tonight’s (1st July) round of 16 clash between Spain and Georgia – was refurbished to prepare the venue for the 2006 World Cup, alongside the addition an adaptable roofing system responsive to changing weather conditions. When retracted, the membrane construction is folded together in the centre of a tensile cable structure. The outer roof edge and the contour of the stands match up identically, resulting in an ideal roof area and an optimised load transfer into the supporting structure of the stands.

The round of 16 match between Spain and Georgia took place yesterday (30th June) at the RheinEnergie Stadium, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Opening after just two years of construction in advance of the 2006 World Cup, the venue is regarded one of the most atmospheric arenas in Germany. It has gained cult status as a football venue, with its distinctive, illuminated steel towers becoming landmarks for the city of Cologne. In 2005, the stadium was awarded a bronze medal by the International Olympic Committee as one of the world’s best sports venues.

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

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