“Echte Helden” or real heroes. That’s quite a name, isn’t it? We are standing in front of the Echte Helden Arena in Freiburg. This arena is more than just an ice rink. It is a place filled with history and passion for ice sports.
The Echte Helden Arena stands in Freiburg’s Mooswald district. For many years it was known as the Franz-Siegel-Halle. This name honored Franz Siegel, the former president of ERC Freiburg. He spearheaded its construction in the late 1960s.
Originally, the stadium was open to the elements. But in the 1970s, a roof was added. For a time, it was the fourth-largest ice hockey stadium in Baden-Württemberg. Only the SAP Arena, the Eisstadion am Friedrichspark, and the Helios Arena were bigger. It held a whopping 5,800 spectators. There were 4,600 standing places and 1,200 seats. But only 5,200 tickets were sold. Some standing places had obstructed views.
The Echte Helden Arena has hosted many important events. It has been the site of several German national ice hockey team matches. One memorable game occurred in 1994. The EHC Selects, a team of current and former EHC players chosen by fans, faced an NHL player selection from the USA. Wayne Gretzky played here. Despite a valiant effort, the EHC Selects lost 8-5. The arena was packed.
In 2019, the arena’s name changed to Echte Helden Arena. This was done to support a children’s and youth clinic being built in Freiburg. The sponsor AHP Merkle, along with the club and the city, decided on the renaming. The “Echte Helden” initiative was born.
The arena faced some challenges over the years. In 2009, a report called it a case for renovation. Heavy snow on the roof threatened to cancel a second-league ice hockey game. The city decided to invest about 2.6 million euros in structural and fire safety improvements. However, these repairs were seen as temporary. The plan was to build a new arena within five years.
In 2013, Freiburg’s city council decided to construct a new stadium for ice sports. In 2014, the operating license for the Echte Helden Arena was extended for ten years. To ensure safety, some improvements were made. The arena’s capacity was reduced to 3,500 places.
Discussions about the arena’s future continued. In 2020, officials considered options after the operating license expired. A new building with two ice surfaces was estimated to cost around 40 million euros. However, a feasibility study concluded that a new building was not financially viable.
In 2024, instead of building a new arena, the city considered renovating the existing one. The estimated cost for this renovation was 35 million euros.
Today, the Echte Helden Arena is easily accessible. It is near the Berliner Allee stop on tram line 4. There is also a Frelo bike-sharing station nearby. The arena continues to be the home of EHC Freiburg. It is a place where real heroes are made.