Once named Sportplatz am Ronhofer Weg gegenüber dem Zentral-Friedhof. Today we stand before the Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer. This stadium is more than just a sports ground. It is a living testament to Fürth’s rich football history. It is the home ground of SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
The Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer opened on September 11, 1910. Back then, Ronhof was an independent municipality. A small wooden grandstand and standing walls accommodated about 8,000 people. SpVgg Greuther Fürth has played on this pitch for a very long time.
Just a year later, the grandstand expanded. Changing rooms and showers were added. Now, 10,000 spectators could watch the games. In 1919, the stadium expanded again. Higher earthen walls and wider steps provided space for 25,000.
In April 1945, an air raid struck the grandstand. It burned out. An unroofed makeshift stand served until May 20, 1951. That day saw the inauguration of the new main stand. It stood with few changes until its demolition in 2016.
The stadium’s record attendance occurred shortly before this. On April 1, 30,000 fans came to the derby against 1. FC Nürnberg. The barrier to the pitch collapsed. Despite this, the match ended peacefully 1-0. This record was equaled on April 3, 1952. 32,000 spectators filled the Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer, also against 1. FC Nürnberg. That game ended 3:3.
Financial problems hit SpVgg in 1983. The Sportpark Ronhof was sold to Horst Brandstätter of Playmobil. In 1996, TSV Vestenbergsgreuth’s football department joined SpVgg Fürth 1903. The club’s name changed to SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The Ronhof became their venue. Promotion to the 2. Bundesliga in 1997 brought new requirements.
Previously, there were no block divisions. There was no floodlighting. An analog scoreboard was in place. Visiting fans were not separated. Horst Brandstätter and the city of Fürth supported conversion measures. The new Playmobil Stadium opened on July 19, 1997. A match against TSV 1860 Munich marked the occasion. The home side won 1-0. Capacity dropped from around 2,500 seated and 24,500 standing to 5,000 seated and 9,500 standing.
In July 1999, the south stand was leveled. A tubular steel structure was erected for seating and standing room. New floodlights were inaugurated in August. The south stand now accommodated about 1,200 standing guests. Seating capacity reached 4,500.
The Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer received a new video wall in August 2003. It was renewed three years later. The current scoreboard measures 9.23 by 6.78 meters.
A turf heating system was installed in 2007. New seats were installed in the main stand. Old Block 1 was demolished. In 2008, the north stand’s standing terraces were roofed over. Corners between the counter stand and blocks were closed with media walls. A modular VIP building for 700 spectators arose on the former Block 1 site.
Since 2010, the stadium has featured white and green seats. The back straight displays the Kleeblatt lettering. The former main stand received a new coat of paint. In 2011, fans redesigned the breakwaters and north stand entrance.
After considering a new stadium, SpVgg Greuther Fürth extended its lease until 2040 in November 2012. In August 2015, the lease extended to 2050. A decision was made to rebuild the main grandstand. Reconstruction occurred in two phases. Phase 1 included demolition of the 60-year-old main grandstand. A new construction with VIP stands followed. This phase finished by July 2017. The infrastructure around the stadium was expanded. Training pitches became car parking spaces.
In February 2016, the stadium was renamed Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer. This combined the traditional name with that of Fürth-born real estate dealer Thomas Sommer. He became the name sponsor.
The Germany women’s national football team has played three international matches here.
Today, the Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer stands as a symbol of Fürth’s enduring passion for football. Its long history and continuous development make it a special place for players and fans alike.