Ever wonder how many stories a stadium could tell? Here at the Südstadion in Cologne, Germany, the stands hold echoes of roaring crowds and nail-biting matches. This stadium is more than just concrete and grass. It’s a local landmark steeped in sporting history.
The Südstadion opened its doors on January 15, 1978. It was built to provide Cologne’s southern football clubs with a venue fit for the 2. Bundesliga. The Südstadion became home to SC Fortuna Köln. Other teams called it home too.
Originally, the Südstadion boasted a capacity of 14,944. Of these, 1,918 were covered seats. Renovations and conversions have altered the numbers a bit over the years. The Südstadion currently holds 11,748 fans.
The entire area is known as the Jean-Löring-Sportpark since 2014. This honors SC Fortuna Köln’s long-time president. The park includes the Südstadion. It also features changing rooms, gyms, training fields and sports halls. After the Rhein-Energie-Stadion was rebuilt, the Südstadion became Cologne’s largest stadium with an athletics facility.
Beyond Fortuna Köln, other teams have used the Südstadion. Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s second team played here in 2008/09 and 2009/10. The 1. FC Köln’s second team also played here. In 2015/16 and 2017/18, the 1. FC Köln women’s team played their Bundesliga matches here. Even Cologne’s American football teams like the Cologne Falcons and Cologne Crocodiles have battled on this field. From 2021 to 2023 the Cologne Centurions (ELF) played their home games in the Südstadion.
Getting here is easy. The Pohligstraße stop on the Stadtbahn line 12 is right next door. The Köln Süd regional train station is also nearby. By car, various routes offer convenient access.
The Südstadion was nearly replaced due to its aging structure. Plans for a new stadium were considered. However, renovations have kept the Südstadion in good condition. A major renovation in 2012 made it suitable for the second division. In 2015/16, a new under-soil heating system was installed.
The Südstadion witnessed a historic moment on May 28, 2014. For the first time in 31 years, a Fortuna Köln match sold out. The game was a promotion playoff against FC Bayern Munich II. Another sold-out match occurred on September 14, 2024. Fortuna Köln played MSV Duisburg. It was only the third time in history the Südstadion sold out.
So, the Südstadion stands as a testament to Cologne’s sporting spirit. It is a place where memories are made and celebrated. As we move on, remember the Südstadion. It is not just a stadium, but a stage for dreams and a symbol of local pride.