Remember the roar echoing through the Bruchwegstadion. This multi-purpose stadium in Mainz holds stories within its walls. Built in 1929, the Bruchwegstadion has been a landmark for almost a century. For many years it was home to the Bundesliga club Mainz 05. Imagine the excitement here before the Opel Arena replaced it in 2011.
The stadium could hold 18,700 fans. Think of the energy as the crowds gathered. The stadium saw renovations in 1947, 1951, 1953, 1965, 1981, 1997 and 2002. These changes kept the stadium alive.
Originally, the Bruchwegstadion was for both athletics and football. WWII caused damage and a major reconstruction happened in 1951. Terraces got coverings later in 1965 and 1981. Floodlights were installed for the first time in 1995.
Complete revamps started as 1. FSV Mainz moved towards the Bundesliga. Both end zones were cleared in 1997. Modest covered tubular stands replaced them. In 2002, stands along the pitch were replaced with bigger facilities. Temporary seating filled western corners in 2004. Sound barriers went into the eastern corners.
However, the Bruchwegstadion had insufficient commercial potential. The Coface Arena replaced it in 2011 as the official venue. The Bruchwegstadion was then used only for reserve players. The temporary corners were dismantled that year due to low interest.
Many events took place here besides FSV Mainz games. The U21 Euro 2004 was held here. Also, two League Cup finals happened in 2003 and 2004. A 2010 World Cup qualifier between Georgia and Ireland was played here. This was due to the unstable situation in Georgia.
In 1951, the seven-stepped stone terrace was erected using debris. Fragments of Roman tombstones were part of it. These fragments remained visible into the 21st century. The stadium capacity rose to 20,000 places.
On February 27, 1965, the Bruchwegstadion saw its largest audience. Twenty-four thousand spectators watched the DFB-Pokal quarter-final against 1. FC Nürnberg. An extra grandstand was built for the game.
The main grandstand got its roof in 1965. The opposite stand got a roof in 1981. In 1974, the final of the first German women’s football championship took place here.
In summer 1995, floodlights were inaugurated during a friendly match. Shortly after, an electronic scoreboard was installed. In 1997, steel tube stands replaced the old curves. In 2002, the main stand and opposite stand were demolished for modern stands.
Today, the Bruchwegstadion is part of the Wolfgang Frank Campus. This honors the former coach of Mainz 05. The stadium continues to host youth football matches. Though times have changed, the spirit of football lives on here. The Bruchwegstadion remains a special place for Mainz fans.