Can you believe this stadium once hosted World Cup contenders? Right here at Sportpark Höhenberg, in the shadow of Cologne’s bustling city, the Tunisian, Japanese, and French national teams trained during the 2006 World Cup. This unassuming sports facility, nestled in the Merheimer Heide of Cologne’s Höhenberg quarter, has a history far richer than its current capacity of 8,343 might suggest. Sportpark Höhenberg first opened its gates in 1921 as the “VfR-Stadion,” a football stadium with a capacity of 30,000. It was a pure football ground, designed for the roar of the crowd and the thrill of the game. Between 1929 and 1931, as part of the Green Belt expansion, it was converted into an athletics stadium. The reopening as “Sportpark Höhenberg” took place on September 20, 1931, marked by a friendly match between VfR Köln and Schalke 04. Over the decades, Sportpark Höhenberg has seen numerous renovations and expansions. A seating grandstand was added in 1969. A new 3,000-seat grandstand appeared in the late 1980s. The running track was removed, returning the stadium to its football-focused roots. In the 1990s, it even briefly bore the name “Flughafenstadion” due to sponsorship from Cologne Bonn Airport. More recently, renovations in 2011, 2012, and 2021 modernized the facilities. These included a floodlight system, a new pitch with turf heating, and even a 105-meter LED perimeter board. Sportpark Höhenberg isn’t just home to Viktoria Köln. It also hosts the Cologne Crocodiles American football team and has become a regular venue for international rugby union matches. The Middle Rhine Cup final even found a home here, from 2021 to 2026. Sportpark Höhenberg, more than just a stadium, echoes with the cheers of fans past and present. It stands as a testament to Cologne’s enduring love for sport.
Skulpturenpark Stammheim
A golden winged pug surveys the Rhine. That’s how many remember the Skulpturenpark Stammheim. This isn’t just any park. It’s