Ever wondered why a football stadium is named after a gate? Welcome to the Millerntor-Stadion. It is more than just a stadium. It embodies the spirit of St. Pauli.
The Millerntor-Stadion stands on Heiligengeistfeld. This is near the Reeperbahn. Imagine the echoes of roaring crowds mixing with the city’s vibrant nightlife. This creates a unique atmosphere.
Originally, the area was no man’s land. It sat between Hamburg and Altona. The name Millerntor comes from the Miller’s Gate. This was an entry point through Hamburg’s old city wall.
This stadium is the proud home of FC St. Pauli. The club owns the stadium. It hosts first team matches. Occasionally, it also hosts matches for the second football team and the women’s football team.
The first sports ground here was built after World War I. Fans and club members helped build a stadium from war rubble in 1946. But progress demanded its removal for the International Garden Exposition in 1963.
Construction of the Millerntor-Stadion began in 1961. It opened in 1963. An initial oversight occurred. They forgot a drainage system. The pitch was often unplayable after rain.
The Millerntor-Stadion has seen many changes. A temporary seating area was added above the back straight in 1988. This allowed promotion to the Bundesliga. This area remained until 2012.
In the late 1980s, plans arose for a Sport-Dome. It was blocked by fans and residents. They feared commercialization. They worried about rising rents.
The stadium was known as Wilhelm-Koch-Stadion from 1970 to 1998. Club members renamed it. Wilhelm Koch had been a member of the NSDAP. The club decided against commercial use of the name in 2007.
Redevelopment took place from 2006 to 2015. One stand at a time was demolished and rebuilt. This allowed the stadium to remain in use.
In December 2006, the South Stand was demolished. This reduced capacity to 15,600. Mismanagement delayed construction. Fans called the empty side the “Littman hole”. This referenced chairman Corny Littmann.
The new South Stand was completed. A temporary seating area was added above the North Stand. Capacity increased to 22,648. The old manual scoreboard was replaced with a digital screen. Some fans lamented this change.
The Main Stand was demolished in 2009. The new all-seater Main Stand was ready for the 2010 to 2011 season. The Millerntor-Stadion then held 24,487 fans.
Construction of the Gegengerade began in 2012. Two unexploded World War II bombs were found. There were different designs for the new Gegengerade. The final design was more conventional. It featured a red brick facade.
The completed Gegengerade holds 13,199. There is standing room for 10,126. There are 3,030 seats in the upper tier.
The North Stand demolition began after an October 2014 match. After demolition, the ground was checked for bombs. Reconstruction then started.
As of July 2015, the stadium holds 29,546. There are 16,940 standing spaces and 12,606 seats. This includes media seats, business seats and 39 suites.
The suites are called “Séparées”. This humorously references the nearby red-light district’s “Chambres Séparées”.
Since the early 2000s, “Hells Bells” by AC/DC plays when the teams enter. “Song 2” by Blur is played after St. Pauli goals. Fans agreed to stop music and ads ten minutes before kickoff. This allows uninterrupted singing.
In 2010, the stadium received a PETA Progress Award. It was recognized as the “most animal-friendly football stadium”. It offers vegetarian and vegan options.
The Millerntor-Stadion stands as a testament to community. It represents the unwavering spirit of FC St. Pauli. It is a place where football transcends the game. It becomes a symbol of identity and belonging.