Rhein Energie Stadion is the home of 1. FC Koln, a 49,698-capacity ground in the west of Cologne famous for its four floodlight towers and one of the most passionate supports in Germany. Demand for Rhein Energie Stadion tickets is driven by the fervour of the Sudkurve, by the Rhine derby against Borussia Monchengladbach and by the visits of Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and the other big Bundesliga clubs. The stadium, rebuilt for the 2006 World Cup on the site of the old Mungersdorfer Stadion, sits in the Sportpark to the west of the city and is styled the RheinEnergieStadion after its sponsor. 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 tram and the train out from central Cologne, how the four stands are arranged around the Sudkurve, where away fans sit, the bag rules and the entry process, the beer and food culture of the city, and the story of one of Germany's great football cities. By the end you should know how an FC Koln matchday runs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | RheinEnergieStadion, the Mungersdorfer Stadion |
| Location | Mungersdorf, western Cologne, Germany |
| Capacity | 49,698 |
| Opened | Rebuilt 2004 for the 2006 World Cup, on a site used since 1923 |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Home Club | 1. FC Koln |
| Home End | The Sudkurve, the south stand |
| Distinctive Feature | Four tall floodlight towers at the corners |
| Notable | Host of 2006 World Cup and Euro 2024 matches |
| Nearest Tram | RheinEnergieStadion on Stadtbahn line 1 |
Rhein Energie Stadion sits in the Mungersdorf district in the west of Cologne, around six kilometres from the cathedral and the centre, in the large Sportpark Mungersdorf. The great advantage of the ground is the tram and train network of Cologne, which serves it well, so most supporters arrive by the Stadtbahn tram or the S-Bahn from the centre. Cologne is a lively and walkable city on the Rhine, and the trip out to the ground is quick and simple on a matchday.
The Stadtbahn tram is the easiest way in, with line 1 running from the centre of Cologne to the RheinEnergieStadion stop right by the ground in around fifteen to twenty minutes, dropping supporters a short walk from the turnstiles. The trams are frequent and busy on matchday, so allow a little extra time around kick-off. Follow the crowd and the signs from the tram stop to the stadium, which stands a few minutes away in the Sportpark.
The S-Bahn also serves the ground, with the Koln-Mungersdorf Technologiepark station a walk from the stadium, giving an alternative from the main railway station and the wider region. From central Cologne the ground is too far to walk comfortably for most, around an hour and a quarter on foot, so the tram or the S-Bahn is the sensible choice, though the final stretch from the transport stops to the turnstiles is a short and easy walk through the Sportpark.
Koln Hauptbahnhof, beside the cathedral in the heart of the city, connects Cologne to the German network and beyond, and links to the trams and the S-Bahn out to the ground in around twenty minutes. Cologne Bonn airport lies to the southeast of the city, connected to the centre by S-Bahn, so visitors flying in reach the middle of Cologne quickly and continue to the ground by tram. The excellent rail links make Cologne an easy city to reach for a match.
There are several car parks around the ground in the Sportpark, so driving is more feasible than at some German stadiums, but the roads and car parks fill up before a bigger match and the area gets busy, so arriving early helps. Given how well the trams and the S-Bahn serve the ground from the centre, many supporters find public transport the easier option on matchday. Drivers coming from outside Cologne should aim to arrive in good time for a space, or park a little further out and complete the journey by tram.
Parking at Rhein Energie Stadion is available in several car parks around the ground in the Sportpark Mungersdorf, more than at many German stadiums, usually for a modest fee. The spaces fill up before a bigger match and the roads around the Sportpark get busy, so arriving early is wise, and for the Rhine derby or the visit of Dortmund the demand is high. Given how well the Stadtbahn tram and the S-Bahn serve the ground from central Cologne, many supporters find public transport simpler than driving. Drivers coming from outside the city should aim to arrive in good time or park a little further out and take the tram in.
Rhein Energie Stadion is a modern, enclosed, football-specific ground with four stands close to the pitch, topped by the four tall floodlight towers at the corners that give the stadium its distinctive look. The two side stands are the main stand and the stand opposite, while the two ends behind the goals are the Sudkurve and the Nordkurve. The Sudkurve, the south stand, is the home of the most passionate FC Koln support, one of the great home ends in German football and the source of the noise and the colour on a matchday.
The Sudkurve behind one goal is the home of FC Koln's most passionate support, a huge, steep stand where the singing, the flags and the atmosphere come from in the red and white of the club. This is the section to target for the fullest experience, one of the loudest home ends in the Bundesliga, packed and fervent in the tradition of the great German terraces. The Sudkurve is the beating heart of an FC Koln matchday and a large part of what makes the ground special.
The main stand along one touchline holds the premium and hospitality seating, the media positions and the tunnel, with the higher-priced central seats offering the best balanced view of the play. The stand opposite runs the length of the other touchline with fine views in a slightly calmer setting. Both give clear sightlines across the ground, and the central rows of the main stand are the pick for a tactical overview, while the Nordkurve and the corners come at a lower price with a more angled view.
Away supporters are housed in the north-east corner of the ground, between the Nordkurve and the stand along that side, with an allocation of around four to five thousand for a full Bundesliga away following, a good number in the German tradition of large travelling supports. The ground has strong accessible provision as a modern stadium, with wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access, 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 | The Sudkurve, the home end |
| Tactical overview | Main stand, central rows |
| Close to pitch | Front rows of the lower tier |
| Calmer view | The stand opposite the main stand |
| Budget-friendly | The Nordkurve and the corners |
| Away fans | North-east corner section |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair-user bays with companion spaces (request at purchase) |
Cologne has a temperate climate, with warm summers and cool, wet winters that bring plenty of rain across a Bundesliga season, so the conditions at a match vary through the year. The roof covers most of the seated areas of the ground, keeping much of the crowd dry, though the open corners and the front rows can catch the wind and rain in a downpour. For an autumn or winter fixture a warm and waterproof layer is sensible given the Rhineland damp, while the early and late-season matches are usually milder and comfortable.
Like other Bundesliga grounds, Rhein Energie Stadion 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, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Standard prohibited items apply, including bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares, and any object judged dangerous. German grounds use a cashless payment system inside, so a contactless card or the stadium card is needed for food and drink. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit before you travel, and arrive early to clear the search.
Cologne is one of the great drinking and social cities of Germany, famous above all for Kolsch, the local beer served in small glasses in the traditional taverns, and for its warm, carnival-loving culture, so the matchday build-up is a real pleasure. The ground is out in Mungersdorf, so while there are spots near the stadium and the Sportpark, the fuller choice of bars and taverns is in the centre of the city, a tram ride away.
The great tradition of Cologne is Kolsch, the pale local beer poured in small glasses and carried round the traditional brewery taverns by waiters known as Kobes, and a visit to one of the old breweries such as those in the centre is a highlight of any trip. The food is hearty Rhineland fare, from Himmel un Aad, black pudding with mashed potato and apple, to schnitzel, sausages and pork dishes, all matched with the Kolsch. A round in a brewery tavern before the tram out to the ground is one of the pleasures of a football trip to Cologne.
The old town of Cologne, around the cathedral and the Rhine, is the place to gather before a match, with its brewery taverns, bars and restaurants, while the Mungersdorf area around the ground is more residential with local spots and the catering of the Sportpark. Because the stadium is out to the west, most supporters build the day around the centre of the city and take the tram out. A Kolsch in a tavern by the cathedral is a fine way to start an FC Koln matchday.
Inside the stadium the concourses serve German matchday staples, the bratwurst and beer that go with a Bundesliga afternoon, on the cashless system used across German grounds. The real draw, though, is the Kolsch and the food of Cologne in the centre, so for a fuller experience eat and drink in the city beforehand, among the brewery taverns and bars, then take the tram out to the ground for the match.
FC Koln use modern ticketing, so for most fixtures the ticket is issued digitally and scanned at the turnstile, and the ground runs on a cashless system inside for food and drink. Load the ticket, charge your phone and have a contactless card ready before you reach the entrance. Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd filter in, and with a bag search at the turnstiles the entrances get busy in the last half hour, particularly for the Rhine derby or the visit of Dortmund. Aim to be at the ground in good time rather than joining the final rush.
Leaving a ground served by the tram and the S-Bahn is straightforward, with the network carrying the crowd back into the centre of Cologne.
The Stadtbahn tram, line 1, and the S-Bahn carry the crowd back into central Cologne after the match, running frequently to clear the ground. The tram stop by the stadium is busy immediately after a bigger fixture, so either move quickly with the first wave or give the crush a few minutes to clear before setting off. The good public transport means you are back in the heart of the city in around twenty minutes for the evening.
Drivers who parked in the Sportpark car parks face the usual post-match congestion on the roads around the ground, so patience helps, and it can be quicker to wait a little for the crowds to thin before setting off. The car parks empty slowly after a bigger match, so a relaxed departure is often easier in the end, and those who used a park-and-ride approach should take the tram back to their car.
The natural way to end an FC Koln matchday is to take the tram back into the centre of Cologne for the evening, for a Kolsch and some Rhineland food in one of the traditional brewery taverns. The simplest way to beat any post-match crowd is to let the first wave clear before heading off, then enjoy the city. An evening in the old town of Cologne by the cathedral and the Rhine is a fine end to a football trip.
There has been a stadium on the Mungersdorf site in the west of Cologne since 1923, and the current ground, the RheinEnergieStadion, was rebuilt between 2001 and 2004 for the 2006 World Cup, a modern arena raised on the site of the old Mungersdorfer Stadion. Its four tall floodlight towers at the corners give it a distinctive silhouette on the Cologne skyline, and it was ready well ahead of the tournament, going on to host five matches at the 2006 World Cup. It later staged matches at Euro 2024, confirming its place as one of Germany's leading venues.
1. FC Koln, formed in 1948, are one of the great names of German football, champions of Germany in the early years of the Bundesliga and winners of the league and cup double in 1978, with a proud history and a huge, devoted support. Known as the Billy Goats after their mascot Hennes, a live goat that attends matches, and steeped in the carnival culture of the city, the club inspires a passion in Cologne matched by few others. The Sudkurve at the ground is famous across Germany for its noise and colour, and the club's anthem and traditions are woven into the life of the city.
The ground has staged countless big occasions, above all the Rhine derby against Borussia Monchengladbach, one of the fiercest rivalries in German football, along with the local derby against Bayer Leverkusen and the visits of the biggest Bundesliga clubs. FC Koln have known the highs of European nights and the lows of relegation and promotion in recent years, but the support has remained constant, filling the ground and the Sudkurve. From the 2006 World Cup to Euro 2024 and the derbies, the RheinEnergieStadion holds a central place in German football.
The stadium's history, verified by contemporary records, is defined by the passion of the FC Koln support and by the major occasions the ground has hosted. Its fiercest fixture is the Rhine derby against Borussia Monchengladbach, which brings the most intense atmosphere of the season, while the visits of Borussia Dortmund and the local derby against Bayer Leverkusen fill the ground. The stadium staged five matches at the 2006 World Cup and further games at Euro 2024, giving it a place in the story of major tournaments as well as of FC Koln and the Sudkurve.
Rhein Energie Stadion is a modern, well-appointed ground that suits the club and the city, so its future lies in continuing as the home of 1. FC Koln, with periodic discussion of upgrading or expanding the stadium to meet the demand of a huge support. Any work would build on the distinctive design with its four floodlight towers, improving the facilities and perhaps the capacity while keeping the character of the ground and the Sudkurve. For now the stadium remains the settled and much-loved home of FC Koln in the Sportpark Mungersdorf, a leading German venue with one of the best atmospheres in the country.
Rhein Energie Stadion has strong accessible provision as a modern stadium, with wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design, along with facilities for supporters with a range of access needs. Supporters requiring accessible seating should contact the club well before the match to confirm the available spaces, arrange any companion ticket and check the best route into the ground. The Stadtbahn tram and the S-Bahn from the centre give reasonable access to the ground, and the modern concourses are easier to move around than at many older stadiums, though it is worth confirming the arrangements and allowing extra time on a busy matchday.
The fixtures that move Rhein Energie Stadion tickets fastest are the Rhine derby and the visits of the biggest German clubs. The derby against Borussia Monchengladbach is the standout occasion, one of the fiercest rivalries in German football, and you can follow it on the FC Koln vs Borussia Monchengladbach tickets page, with the visitors' own listings on the Borussia Monchengladbach tickets page. The visit of Borussia Dortmund is another huge draw, covered on the FC Koln vs Borussia Dortmund tickets page and the Borussia Dortmund tickets listings, while the local derby against Bayer Leverkusen and the other leading sides also sell strongly. The full home programme sits on the FC Koln tickets and Bundesliga tickets listings. 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 Rhine derby and 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 Rhein Energie Stadion 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 a place near the Sudkurve against a central 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 north-east corner of the ground.
Step4
Review before checkout
Check the delivery method and the kick-off time against your travel plans, and note that the ground runs on a cashless system inside. Bundesliga 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 FC Koln fixtures are typically issued digitally. Keep the ticket ready to scan on your phone, and follow the delivery instructions supplied with your order.
Step8
Track your order
Follow delivery status and manage your booking through track order. Tickets arrive ahead of the match so you can travel with everything ready.
Cologne makes a superb football trip, a lively and welcoming city on the Rhine dominated by its magnificent Gothic cathedral, famous for its Kolsch beer, its carnival and its warm, sociable culture. Take the train to Koln Hauptbahnhof, beside the cathedral in the heart of the city and well connected across Germany, then the Stadtbahn tram out to the ground. Base yourself in the centre near the old town, and remember that the ground runs on a cashless system, that the stadium is out in Mungersdorf rather than the centre, and that the Kolsch and the brewery taverns of Cologne are a reason to travel in themselves. Cologne pairs a match with one of the most enjoyable and sociable city breaks in Germany.
With the Rhineland and its cities close by, many supporters build a longer trip around the match. If you are lining up other fixtures, the football tickets hub, the wider football tournaments calendar and the venues tickets directory show what else is on. In and around Cologne, the great Gothic cathedral, the old town and the Rhine embankment, the brewery taverns and the museums, and a boat trip on the river all reward a matchday trip to the Rhineland.
Rhein Energie Stadion holds 49,698, a large ground by Bundesliga standards. It is a modern, enclosed, football-specific stadium with four stands close to the pitch and the distinctive four floodlight towers at the corners, and the huge Sudkurve gives it one of the best atmospheres in German football on a matchday.
The ground is the home of 1. FC Koln, one of the great names of German football, known as the Billy Goats after their goat mascot Hennes. The club has played at the Mungersdorf site for decades, and the current stadium was rebuilt for the 2006 World Cup. It is one of the best-supported clubs in Germany.
The ground is in Mungersdorf, west of the centre. Take the Stadtbahn tram, line 1, from central Cologne to the RheinEnergieStadion stop by the ground in around fifteen to twenty minutes, or the S-Bahn to the Koln-Mungersdorf Technologiepark station. There are car parks in the Sportpark, but the tram is the easier option on matchday.
Yes, there are several car parks around the ground in the Sportpark Mungersdorf, usually for a modest fee, more than at many German stadiums. They fill up before a bigger match and the roads get busy, so arrive early. Given how well the tram and the S-Bahn serve the ground, many supporters find public transport the easier option.
Yes, FC Koln tickets are sold to the general public, though the Rhine derby against Borussia Monchengladbach and the visits of the biggest clubs sell out fast, given the huge demand from the Cologne support. A verified secondary marketplace is a 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, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Expect a search at the turnstile. Bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares are prohibited. The ground runs on a cashless system inside, so bring a contactless card. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit.
The Sudkurve, the south stand behind one goal, is the home of FC Koln's most passionate support and one of the great home ends in German football, so target it for the fullest atmosphere in the red and white of the club. It is huge, steep and loud. The main stand and the side opposite are calmer and better for a clear tactical view.
Visiting supporters are housed in the north-east corner of the ground, with an allocation of around four to five thousand for a full Bundesliga away following, in the German tradition of large travelling supports. The exact allocation varies by fixture, so away fans should check the details for their specific game and follow the guidance issued with the ticket.
Yes. As a modern ground it has wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design. Contact the club before the match to confirm the available spaces and arrange the seating and any companion ticket in advance. The Stadtbahn tram and the S-Bahn from the centre help with reaching the ground.
Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd in, typically well over an hour before a Bundesliga match. With a bag search at the turnstiles, the entrances get busy in the last half hour, so aim to arrive in good time, especially for the Rhine derby or the visit of Dortmund. The precise opening time is confirmed with your ticket.
The concourses serve German matchday staples, the bratwurst and beer that go with a Bundesliga afternoon, on the ground's cashless system. The real draw is Cologne itself, famous for Kolsch, the local beer served in the traditional brewery taverns, and hearty Rhineland food. Eat and drink in the centre before taking the tram out to the ground.
The Rhine derby is the meeting of FC Koln and Borussia Monchengladbach, two clubs of the Rhineland and one of the fiercest rivalries in German football. It is the fixture that means the most to the FC Koln support, charged with regional rivalry and history, and it brings the most intense atmosphere of the season to the ground and the Sudkurve.
There has been a stadium on the Mungersdorf site since 1923, and the current ground was rebuilt between 2001 and 2004 for the 2006 World Cup, on the site of the old Mungersdorfer Stadion. Its four tall floodlight towers give it a distinctive look, and it went on to host matches at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2024.
Face-value Bundesliga prices at FC Koln are affordable by the standards of the biggest European leagues, with the ends the cheapest areas. Resale prices depend on the opponent, with the Rhine derby against Borussia Monchengladbach and the visits of Dortmund and the other giants the most expensive. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than a promise.
The centre of Cologne, around the cathedral and the old town, is the best base, with plenty of hotels and an easy tram out to the ground. Staying central puts you among the brewery taverns, bars and restaurants of a lively city, near Koln Hauptbahnhof for the trams to the stadium and for onward travel across Germany.
FC Koln issue tickets digitally for most fixtures, scanned at the turnstile from your phone. Load the ticket and charge your phone before you arrive, and bring a contactless card for the cashless system inside. Follow the delivery and entry instructions supplied with your order, as the requirements can vary by fixture.
The four tall floodlight towers at the corners are the signature feature of the RheinEnergieStadion, part of the modern design of the ground rebuilt in 2004. They light the pitch and give the stadium a distinctive silhouette on the Cologne skyline, one of the most recognisable in German football, visible from around the western side of the city.
The ground is out in Mungersdorf, so the attractions are in central Cologne, a tram ride away. The great Gothic cathedral, the old town and the Rhine embankment, the brewery taverns serving Kolsch, the museums and a boat trip on the river all reward a matchday trip to Cologne, one of the most enjoyable cities in Germany.
Yes. The ground hosted five matches at the 2006 World Cup, for which it was rebuilt, and further matches at Euro 2024, confirming its place as one of Germany's leading venues. It has also staged other major football occasions over the years, giving it a history of big tournament matches alongside its role as the home of FC Koln.
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Sources: 1. FC Koln (fc-koeln.de), club matchday guidance, Cologne KVB transport information, and stadium reference records such as football ground guides and stadium databases.