Paul-Greifzu-Stadion

“20,000 roaring fans! Can you imagine?” I exclaim, sweeping my arm towards the Paul-Greifzu-Stadion. “That’s how many people crammed into this very stadium for its grand opening on July 6, 1958.” The Paul-Greifzu-Stadion isn’t just a stadium. It’s a monument to speed, grit, and the legacy of Paul Greifzu, the car racer who tragically lost his life in Dessau in 1952. The stadium, nestled on the western edge of Stralsund, off Barther Straße, is the home of the MC Nordstern Stralsund e.V., a motorcycle speedway club. The story of the Paul-Greifzu-Stadion begins in 1957. The city council, using lottery funds, spearheaded the construction of this sporting arena. Just a year later, in April 1958, the Stralsund Speedway Club was born, ready to christen their new home. The stadium was inaugurated by Mayor Motczinski with that impressive crowd of 20,000. This place has witnessed some thrilling moments in speedway history. It hosted a qualifying round of the 1968 Speedway World Team Cup, a qualifying round of the Speedway World Championship in 1969, and the 2023 European Team Speedway Championship final. The Paul-Greifzu-Stadion isn’t just a host for international events. It’s also where local heroes have made their mark. Hartmut Ernst, a rider for MC Nordstern, won the East German Individual Speedway Championship here in 1977. The stadium has also been the venue for the final rounds of the national individual and team championships numerous times. The MC Nordstern team, roaring around this very track, claimed victory in the German Team Speedway Championship in 2015 and again in 2022. And who could forget April 22, 2023, when Dominik Kubera etched his name in the stadium’s history? On that day, he shattered the 385-meter track record with a blistering time of 66.47 seconds. The roar of the crowd, the smell of exhaust fumes, the thrill of the race. The Paul-Greifzu-Stadion continues to write its story, fueled by the passion for speedway.