Throngs of fans cheer. The Rothenbachhalle comes alive with each handball match.
The Rothenbachhalle stands as a multifunctional arena. It is located at the fair and exhibition center in Kassel. It is near the Bugasee. Opened in 2007 the Rothenbachhalle can host up to 4300 spectators for handball matches.
Initially the Rothenbachhalle was meant for a single game. It was against THW Kiel. Tickets sold out quickly. MT Melsungen decided to host all home matches here.
MT Melsungen is a handball team. It plays in the Handball-Bundesliga. The team’s home is now in the Rothenbachhalle in Kassel. Going to the Rothenbachhalle is hassle-free. Buy tickets online. Put them in your digital wallet. Entrance is fast. There is no security check. Move around freely.
The arena looks a little improvised. It is on the fairgrounds. The stands look like temporary installations. But that is pretty normal. Everybody is very polite. The crowd welcomes the away team. The players excuse themselves after a foul. Spectators are of all ages. It is a very mixed group. You can even wear a suit here. There is dancing as entertainment during breaks. People use clap banners.
Handball is played with six players and a goalkeeper per team. A match lasts 60 minutes. It has two halves of 30 minutes each. There is a 15-minute break in between. The clock stops during timeouts and fouls. Expect a match to take 1 hour 45 minutes. The winner throws the ball into the opponent’s goal more often. The field is 40×20 meters.
Six meters around the goal is the goal area. The goalkeeper can only leave his goal for four meters. The free-throw line is nine meters from the goal. Penalty shots are from seven meters. Lines are part of the area. You cannot throw the ball on the goal from within the goal area.
Goals are 3×2 meters. Outfield players cannot enter the goal area. They can jump into it. The ball must leave the hand before the player touches the ground. Defending players cannot enter the goal area. Teams can take three timeouts. Each timeout lasts one minute. This is only if they have the ball. Handball is a contact sport. You can touch other players. You can block them. Pushing or holding a player results in a free-throw. A seven-meter-throw results if a scoring chance was destroyed. A player might get a yellow card. After three yellow cards a player is sent off for two minutes. Rude behavior gets a red card. The player is disqualified. His team plays with one less player for two minutes.
MT Melsungen is the Melsunger Turngemeinde 1861 e.V. It was founded in 1861. It organizes teams for many sports. The club has been successful in handball. Since 1992 it played in the second league. Since 2005 it is in the first German league. This is the Handball-Bundesliga. Since 2014 it played in the EHF Europa Pokal. The team plays in red and white. Its mascot is Henner a red dragon.
Reach the Rothenbachhalle easily by car. There is enough parking space. It is harder to reach on foot. The Bugasee and Karlsaue separate the arena from the city. Taking the bus is also not easy. Take the bus, tramway or RegioTram to Auestadion. Find one of the shuttle buses starting two hours before a match. This results in long queues before and after matches.
So next time you’re in Kassel experience the thrill. Witness a handball match at the Rothenbachhalle. You will feel the energy. You will understand the passion. You will support MT Melsungen.