Stadion Lohmühle

“A cauldron of cheers, under the watchful eye of the Holstentor?” a young boy asked his father, eyes wide with anticipation. His father chuckled, “Not quite, son, but close! This is Stadion Lohmühle, Lübeck’s own football fortress.” Stadion Lohmühle, nestled in the Holstentor Nord district of Lübeck, has witnessed a century of sporting drama. From its humble beginnings as a playing field built by the ATSV Lübeck in 1926 to its current status as the home of VfB Lübeck, Stadion Lohmühle has seen it all. Originally opened in 1929, it boasted a running track and athletic facilities. Sadly, it lacked stands or changing rooms. The Nazi regime seized the stadium in 1933, renaming it “Adolf Hitler Arena.” It became the home ground of SV Polizei Lübeck in 1934 after their Kasernenhof field was claimed by the Wehrmacht. SV Polizei added a 472-seater stand in 1937 and a covered standing terrace for 3,000 spectators a year later, increasing the capacity to around 7,000. After World War II, a legal battle ensued between VfB Lübeck and ATSV Lübeck for the stadium’s ownership. Eventually, VfB Lübeck secured a lease and expanded the terraces, reaching a capacity of 20,000 by 1959. Stadion Lohmühle underwent a significant transformation in 1996 with the construction of a new main stand, complete with club offices, a shop, changing rooms, and VIP suites. This renovation was prompted by VfB Lübeck’s promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. The old wooden stand, “Alte Holze,” remains a nostalgic reminder of the stadium’s past and serves the club’s youth teams. Floodlights were installed in 2000, meeting the requirements for televised matches. More recently, a new standing terrace was added in the “Pappelkurve” for the 2019-20 season, holding 1,400 fans. Despite the increased capacity, certain restrictions, including fire safety regulations and space for TV cameras, limit the usable seats to around 10,800. In 2020, a digital scoreboard was installed, further reducing the practical capacity. Stadion Lohmühle was briefly renamed “Dietmar-Scholze-Stadion an der Lohmühle” for the 2020-21 season to honor a former club president. The echoes of roaring crowds and the thrill of victory still reverberate through the stands of Stadion Lohmühle. Each match adds another chapter to this historic stadium’s vibrant story, a story inextricably linked to the heart of Lübeck’s footballing soul.