MHPArena is the home of VfB Stuttgart, a modern 60,000-capacity ground in the NeckarPark district of Stuttgart that has hosted the World Cup, the European Championship and European finals across its long history. Demand for MHPArena tickets is driven by a big, well-supported Bundesliga club on the rise, the visits of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and the other leading German sides, and the standing terrace of the Cannstatter Kurve, one of the great home ends in the Bundesliga. The ground was long known as the Neckarstadion and more recently as the Mercedes-Benz Arena, and it took the MHPArena name in 2023, after the local company. 1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace established in 2006, with seat-level detail at checkout and a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
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This guide is written for the supporter making the trip, not the browser. It covers the S-Bahn and Stadtbahn out to NeckarPark, how the four stands are arranged around the Cannstatter Kurve, where away fans sit, the bag rules and the entry process, the beer and food of Stuttgart and the Wasen, and the story of one of Germany's great stadiums. By the end you should know how a VfB Stuttgart matchday runs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | MHPArena, formerly the Neckarstadion and Mercedes-Benz Arena |
| Location | NeckarPark, Bad Cannstatt, Stuttgart, Germany |
| Capacity | Around 60,000 for Bundesliga matches, fewer for internationals |
| Opened | 1933, redeveloped for football in 2009 to 2011 |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Home Club | VfB Stuttgart |
| Home End | Cannstatter Kurve, an 8,000 standing terrace |
| Away End | Untertürkheimer Kurve |
| Accessibility | Step-free, with around 200 wheelchair spaces |
| Nearest Station | NeckarPark on the S1 S-Bahn, a short walk away |
MHPArena sits in the NeckarPark area of Bad Cannstatt, on the eastern side of Stuttgart by the river Neckar, around four and a half kilometres from the city centre and the main railway station. The great advantage of the ground is Stuttgart's excellent public transport, so almost everyone arrives by S-Bahn or Stadtbahn, then walks the short distance to the stadium. The stadium shares its district with the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Cannstatter Wasen festival grounds, giving the area a lively feel on a big day.
The S-Bahn is the easiest way in, with the S1 line running to the NeckarPark station, from where it is a short five-minute walk to the ground. The S-Bahn connects NeckarPark to the Hauptbahnhof and the wider Stuttgart network quickly and frequently, so most supporters take the train out from the centre. Follow the crowd and the signs from the station to the stadium on matchday, and allow extra time as the trains fill for a big fixture.
The Stadtbahn, Stuttgart's light-rail network, also serves the ground, with the U11 line running to NeckarPark on matchdays as a dedicated service, alongside other lines that stop nearby. The area is walkable once you are in NeckarPark, and the walk from Bad Cannstatt station is also manageable. Many German clubs include local public transport with the matchday ticket, so check whether your ticket covers the S-Bahn and Stadtbahn before buying a separate fare.
Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station, is a major hub on the German network, connected to the ground by the S-Bahn in a few minutes, so visitors arriving by train can reach the stadium easily. Stuttgart Airport lies to the south of the city and is linked to the centre by the S-Bahn, from where the connection out to NeckarPark is straightforward. The strong rail links make the ground very accessible for supporters coming from across Germany and beyond.
Driving to the ground is not recommended, as parking at the stadium is limited to a small number of pre-booked spaces and the roads around NeckarPark are busy on matchday, particularly when an event is also on at the neighbouring Wasen. There is no large public matchday car park at the ground, so with the S-Bahn and Stadtbahn running right to NeckarPark, public transport is far easier than driving. Drivers should use a park-and-ride on the network and take the train in.
Parking at MHPArena is limited, with only a small number of pre-booked spaces at the ground and no large public matchday car park, and the NeckarPark area gets very busy, especially when the Cannstatter Wasen festival is running next door. The club and the city strongly recommend arriving by public transport, given the excellent S-Bahn and Stadtbahn links to NeckarPark and the congestion around the ground on matchday. Drivers coming from outside the city are best using a park-and-ride site on the Stuttgart network and completing the journey by train, which is quicker and easier than trying to park near the stadium.
MHPArena is a modern, football-specific ground since the running track was removed and the pitch lowered in the 2009 to 2011 redevelopment, so the stands are now close to the pitch and the sightlines are excellent throughout. The four stands are the Cannstatter Kurve and the Untertürkheimer Kurve behind the goals, and the Haupttribüne and Gegentribüne along the sides, with the Cannstatter Kurve the home end and the heart of the atmosphere. The redevelopment, and further work before the 2024 European Championship, made it one of the best big grounds in Germany.
The Cannstatter Kurve behind one goal is the home of VfB Stuttgart's most passionate support, an 8,000-capacity standing terrace that is the loudest and most colourful part of the ground, where the flags, the banners and the singing come from in the red and white of the club. This is the section to target for the fullest atmosphere, in the German tradition of the huge standing Kurve, and it drives the noise on a big Bundesliga night. Standing places convert to seats for European fixtures under the competition rules.
The Haupttribüne along one side is the main stand, modernised before the 2024 European Championship, holding the premium and hospitality seating, the media positions and the tunnel, with the higher-priced seats and the best central view along the pitch. The Gegentribüne opposite runs the length of the other touchline with good elevated views in a calmer setting. As a redeveloped ground with the seats brought close to the pitch, both sides give clear sightlines and modern facilities.
Away supporters are housed in the Untertürkheimer Kurve behind the opposite goal, across two tiers, with an allocation that varies by fixture, so away fans should check the details for their specific game. As a ground redeveloped to modern standards, the stadium has strong accessibility provision, entirely step-free with around 200 wheelchair-user spaces after the 2024 renovation, along with companion spaces and accessible facilities, though supporters with access requirements should contact the club before the match to confirm the arrangements. The table below matches a section to what you want from the day.
| Priority | Recommended Sections |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Cannstatter Kurve, the standing terrace |
| Tactical overview | Haupttribüne main stand, central rows |
| Close to pitch | Front rows of the lower tier |
| Calmer view | Gegentribüne seated areas |
| Budget-friendly | Standing places and the upper corners |
| Away fans | Untertürkheimer Kurve, behind the goal |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair-user bays with companion spaces (request at purchase) |
Stuttgart sits in a valley in the south-west of Germany, with warm summers and cold winters that can bring frost and snow, so the weather at a match varies across the Bundesliga season. The roof covers the stands well and keeps most of the crowd dry, a benefit of the modern redevelopment, though wind-driven rain can still reach the front rows and the standing terrace can be exposed at the front. For an autumn or winter fixture a warm and waterproof layer is sensible, especially on the terrace, while late-summer and early-season matches are usually comfortable under the covered stands.
Like other Bundesliga grounds, MHPArena runs a firm bag policy with searches on entry, so the sensible approach is to travel light. Large bags and rucksacks are best left at your accommodation, since oversized bags are refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store. Standard prohibited items apply, including bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares, and any object judged dangerous. The concourses take card and contactless payment. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit before you travel, and arrive early to clear the search on a busy day.
Stuttgart is a fine city for food and drink, at the heart of the Swabian region known for its hearty cooking and its wine, and the ground sits right beside the Cannstatter Wasen, one of the great beer and folk festivals of Germany. Between the festival grounds, the bars near the stadium and the city centre, the matchday is well served.
The Cannstatter Wasen, the huge beer and folk festival held next to the stadium in the autumn, means that on some matchdays the area is alive with beer tents and fairground, a memorable backdrop to a game. Near the ground itself are spots such as the Dinkelacker festival tent, Palm Beach Stuttgart and the Rössle, which fill with supporters on matchday. The NeckarPark area, shared with the Mercedes-Benz Museum, is a lively place to gather before a match.
The city centre of Stuttgart, a short S-Bahn ride away, has a wide choice of bars, beer gardens and restaurants serving Swabian specialities such as Maultaschen and Spätzle, along with the wines of the surrounding Württemberg vineyards, unusual for a big German city. Many supporters build the day around the centre or the old town of Bad Cannstatt, then take the train out to the ground. The city's strong food and wine culture is a genuine draw.
Inside the arena the concourses are modern and serve German matchday fare of sausages, pretzels, chips and beer, with card and contactless payment throughout. As a redeveloped ground the facilities are excellent. For a fuller meal, eat in the city centre, Bad Cannstatt or at the Wasen when it is on, where the choice is far greater, then head to the ground.
VfB Stuttgart use digital ticketing, so for most fixtures the ticket sits in your phone wallet or the club's app and is scanned at the turnstile. Load the ticket, charge your phone and turn the screen brightness up before you reach the entrance, since a saved screenshot can fail to scan when a barcode refreshes. Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd in, and with a bag search and a crowd arriving by S-Bahn at once, the entrances get busy in the last half hour. Aim to be at the ground in good time rather than joining the final rush from NeckarPark, particularly for a big Bundesliga or European night.
Leaving the ground means relying mainly on the S-Bahn and Stadtbahn, which are built to move large crowds quickly back into the city.
The S1 S-Bahn from NeckarPark and the Stadtbahn carry the crowd back towards the Hauptbahnhof and the wider network after the match, running frequently to clear a big fixture. The station is busy immediately after a sell-out, so either move quickly with the first wave or give the crush a few minutes to clear before heading down. The frequent service and the short walk from the ground make getting away straightforward for a stadium of this size.
Drivers who used a park-and-ride should take the train back to their car on the network, avoiding the busy roads around NeckarPark after the match, which clear slowly, especially when the Wasen is also emptying. Few come by car given the transport links, so the S-Bahn and Stadtbahn are the near-universal way out. The public transport avoids the congestion entirely.
The natural way to end a matchday is to take the train back into the centre of Stuttgart or the old town of Bad Cannstatt for the evening, or to the Wasen when the festival is running, for the beer and food of Swabia. The simplest way to beat any post-match crowd is to let the first wave clear before heading to the S-Bahn, then enjoy the city. A Stuttgart evening over the local wine and hearty food is a fine end to the day.
The ground opened in 1933 and became known for much of its life as the Neckarstadion, growing into one of the great stadiums of German football and a regular host of the national team and major finals. It was rebuilt and renamed the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in the 1990s, then the Mercedes-Benz Arena in 2008, and took the MHPArena name in 2023 under a naming deal with a local company. As the home of VfB Stuttgart it has staged some of the biggest occasions in the German game, and its history stretches back through the decades to the earliest years of the sport in the city.
The most important change to the ground came between 2009 and 2011, when the running track was removed and the pitch lowered, turning a multi-purpose stadium into a modern, football-specific arena with the stands close to the pitch. Further work before the 2024 European Championship modernised the main stand and the facilities. The result is a ground that keeps its huge scale and history while offering the atmosphere and sightlines of a modern football stadium, with the standing Cannstatter Kurve at its heart.
The stadium has a remarkable record of hosting major tournaments, with matches at the 1974 and 2006 World Cups, including the third-place playoff in 2006, the European Championships of 1988 and 2024, when it staged group games and a quarter-final, and two European Cup finals. VfB Stuttgart themselves are one of the traditional powers of German football, champions of Germany several times, most recently in 2007, and have enjoyed a strong revival in recent seasons, returning to the Champions League and winning the domestic cup, bringing the biggest nights back to the ground.
The stadium's history, verified by contemporary records, is among the richest of any German ground. It hosted matches at the 1974 and 2006 World Cups and the 2024 European Championship, including a quarter-final, along with two European Cup finals, giving it a place in the story of the continental game. For VfB Stuttgart, the biggest occasions have been the title run-ins of their championship seasons, the European nights against the leading clubs of Europe and the fierce Bundesliga matches against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, when the Cannstatter Kurve is at its loudest.
MHPArena is a modern, redeveloped ground, freshly updated for the 2024 European Championship, so its future lies in continuing as one of the leading stadiums in Germany for both VfB Stuttgart and major events. The club's revival, with a return to the Champions League and success in the cup, has brought the biggest nights back to the ground and increased demand, and the modern facilities are well suited to a club looking to establish itself again among the German elite. The ground gives VfB Stuttgart a large, historic and modern home for the long term, and its record as a tournament venue is likely to continue.
Following its redevelopment and the work before the 2024 European Championship, MHPArena has strong accessibility provision, entirely step-free with around 200 wheelchair-user spaces, along with companion spaces, accessible facilities and good access from the NeckarPark station. Supporters with access requirements should contact the club well before the match to confirm the available seating, arrange any companion ticket and check the route into the ground, as the accessible areas and services can be booked in advance. The step-free S-Bahn and Stadtbahn links to NeckarPark make reaching the ground more manageable than at many older stadiums, even for a very large venue.
The fixtures that move MHPArena tickets fastest are the visits of the biggest Bundesliga clubs and VfB Stuttgart's European nights. The match against Bayern Munich is the standout league draw, and you can follow it on the Stuttgart vs Bayern Munich tickets page, with the visitors' listings on the Bayern Munich tickets page. The visit of Borussia Dortmund is another huge occasion, covered on the Stuttgart vs Borussia Dortmund tickets page and the Borussia Dortmund tickets listings. The full home programme sits on the VfB Stuttgart tickets and Bundesliga tickets pages. The club's return to the top of the European game brings the knockout and group nights of the Champions League tickets calendar to the ground, where the Cannstatter Kurve is at its loudest. Early-season fixtures against mid-table sides are the most accessible and sometimes available closer to kick-off. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than fixed and buy early for the marquee matches.
1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace that has operated since 2006, showing seat-level detail before you pay and backing every order with a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday. The eight steps below cover the process from finding a fixture to tracking your order.
Step1
Find the fixture
Go to the MHPArena listing on 1BoxOffice and select the match you want. Each fixture shows the available stands, rows and current pricing before you commit to a seat.
Step2
Check the seat detail
Use the stand and price filters to compare sections. Seat location and row are shown against the venue layout, so you can weigh the Cannstatter Kurve terrace against a calmer main-stand seat before deciding.
Step3
Confirm the supporter section
Make sure the block matches who you are travelling with. Home and visiting-supporter areas are listed separately, and away fans are routed to the Untertürkheimer Kurve behind the goal.
Step4
Review before checkout
Check the delivery method and the kick-off time against your travel plans, and note that your ticket may include free local transport. Bundesliga and European kick-off times can shift with broadcast scheduling, so verify the date and time before you book travel or a hotel.
Step5
Create your account
First-time buyers should create an account to complete checkout and receive the ticket. Returning customers simply log in. An account keeps your order and delivery details in one place.
Step6
Complete payment
All major credit and debit cards are accepted. The 150% money-back guarantee applies automatically to every order if the ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
Step7
Receive your ticket
Tickets for VfB Stuttgart fixtures are typically issued digitally. Keep the live ticket in your wallet or the club's app ready to scan, and avoid relying on a saved screenshot that may fail at the turnstile.
Step8
Track your order
Follow delivery status and manage your booking through track order. Digital tickets arrive ahead of the match so you can travel with everything ready.
Stuttgart makes a rewarding football trip, a prosperous city in the south-west of Germany, home to the car industry and surrounded by vineyards and the hills of Swabia, and well connected across Europe. Fly into Stuttgart Airport, linked to the centre by the S-Bahn, or arrive by fast train, then take the S1 S-Bahn out to NeckarPark for the ground. Base yourself in the centre or in Bad Cannstatt, with the S-Bahn out to the stadium on matchday, and remember that your ticket may include free local transport, that the concourses are cashless so a contactless card is essential, and that the standing terrace of the Cannstatter Kurve is the place for atmosphere. Set aside time for the Mercedes-Benz Museum by the ground and the wines and food of the region.
With the region rich in things to see, many supporters build a longer trip around the match. If you are lining up other fixtures, the football tickets hub and the venues tickets directory show what else is on, while tournament travellers follow the World Cup tickets hub. In and around Stuttgart, the Mercedes-Benz Museum next to the ground, the Porsche Museum, the palace square and old town in the centre, the mineral baths of Bad Cannstatt and the vineyards of Württemberg all reward a matchday trip to the city.
MHPArena holds around 60,000 for Bundesliga matches, including a large standing terrace in the Cannstatter Kurve, with a lower capacity for international fixtures when the terrace is seated. Redeveloped into a football-specific ground with the seats close to the pitch, it is one of the larger and better grounds in the Bundesliga, with excellent sightlines throughout.
Yes. The ground was called the Mercedes-Benz Arena from 2008 and took the MHPArena name in 2023 under a new naming deal with a local company. It was long known before that as the Neckarstadion and then the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion. All the names refer to the same VfB Stuttgart ground in NeckarPark.
Take the S1 S-Bahn to NeckarPark, a five-minute walk from the ground, the easiest way in. The U11 Stadtbahn also serves NeckarPark on matchdays. The stadium is around four and a half kilometres from the Hauptbahnhof, connected quickly by the S-Bahn. Public transport is strongly recommended, as parking at the ground is very limited.
Parking is very limited, with only a small number of pre-booked spaces and no large public matchday car park, and the area is busy, especially when the Cannstatter Wasen festival is on next door. With the excellent S-Bahn and Stadtbahn links to NeckarPark, public transport is far easier than driving. Drivers are best using a park-and-ride and taking the train.
Yes, though members and season-ticket holders get first access, and with the club's revival demand has risen, so the biggest fixtures sell out fast. Public sales for remaining tickets are limited, which is why a verified secondary marketplace is often the realistic route for visitors, with seat detail shown before you pay.
Travel light, as large bags and rucksacks are refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store. Expect a search at the entrance. Bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares are prohibited. The concourses are cashless, so bring a contactless card. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit before you travel.
The Cannstatter Kurve, an 8,000-capacity standing terrace behind one goal, is the home of VfB Stuttgart's most passionate support and the loudest part of the ground, with flags, banners and constant singing in red and white. Target it for the fullest atmosphere. The seated stands are calmer and better suited to a clear tactical view of the game.
Visiting supporters are housed in the Untertürkheimer Kurve behind the opposite goal, across two tiers, with an allocation that varies by fixture. The arrangement can change for a big Bundesliga match or a European tie, so away fans should always check the details for their specific game and follow the guidance issued with the ticket.
Yes. Following the redevelopment and the work before the 2024 European Championship, the ground is entirely step-free with around 200 wheelchair-user spaces, along with companion spaces and accessible facilities. Contact the club before the match to confirm the seating and arrange it in advance, helped by the step-free access from NeckarPark station.
Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd in, typically around an hour and a half before a Bundesliga match. With a bag search and a crowd arriving by S-Bahn at once, the entrances get busy in the last half hour, so aim to arrive in good time. The precise opening time is confirmed with your ticket.
The concourses are cashless and serve German matchday fare of sausages, pretzels, chips and beer. The ground sits beside the Cannstatter Wasen festival grounds, alive with beer tents when the festival is on, and near spots such as the Dinkelacker tent and Palm Beach. The Swabian food and Württemberg wine of the city centre are a short S-Bahn ride away.
The Cannstatter Kurve is a huge single-tier standing terrace holding around 8,000, in the German tradition of the safe-standing Kurve, which creates a wall of noise and colour behind the goal. Standing tickets are among the cheapest in top-flight football and the terrace is the beating heart of a VfB Stuttgart matchday, converting to seats for European fixtures.
The running track was removed and the pitch lowered between 2009 and 2011, turning the old multi-purpose stadium into a modern, football-specific ground with the stands brought close to the pitch. The change transformed the atmosphere and the sightlines, and further work modernised the main stand and facilities before the 2024 European Championship.
Face-value Bundesliga prices at Stuttgart are reasonable by European standards, with the standing places among the cheapest tickets in top-flight football. Resale prices depend heavily on the opponent, with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and European nights the most expensive. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than a promise.
The city centre is a good base, with plenty of hotels and a quick S-Bahn ride out to NeckarPark, as is the old town of Bad Cannstatt, closer to the ground. Staying central puts you among the bars, restaurants and sights of Stuttgart, and near the Hauptbahnhof for the short trip to the stadium and back after the match.
VfB Stuttgart issue tickets digitally, so the barcode sits in your phone wallet or the club's app and is scanned at the turnstile. Charge your phone, turn up the screen brightness and load the ticket before you arrive. A saved screenshot can fail to scan when a barcode refreshes, so rely on the live ticket in the app.
It is known as one of Germany's great stadiums, the home of VfB Stuttgart, with a huge standing terrace in the Cannstatter Kurve and a long history of hosting the World Cup, the European Championship and European finals. It is also known for its setting in NeckarPark beside the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Cannstatter Wasen festival grounds.
The ground shares NeckarPark with the Mercedes-Benz Museum, right next door, and the Cannstatter Wasen festival grounds. The old town and mineral baths of Bad Cannstatt are close by, and the centre of Stuttgart, with its palace square, the Porsche Museum and the Württemberg vineyards, is a short S-Bahn ride away.
Yes. The stadium hosted matches at the 1974 and 2006 World Cups, including the third-place playoff in 2006, and at the European Championships of 1988 and 2024, when it staged group games and a quarter-final. It has also hosted two European Cup finals, giving it a notable place in the history of the international and European game.
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Sources: VfB Stuttgart (vfb.de), club matchday guidance, VVS Stuttgart transport information, football ground guides, and Bundesliga and stadium reference records. Information was gathered in July 2026 and may change; check sources for the latest details. 1BoxOffice is not affiliated with VfB Stuttgart or MHPArena. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.