DonauArena

The DonauArena sits in the Weichs district of Regensburg. It is not a football stadium. The local team, SSV Jahn Regensburg, plays at the Jahnstadion Regensburg, which has a natural grass surface with undersoil heating. This arena belongs to a different rhythm.

Built by the city utilities of Regensburg, the building arrived in 1999, though some sources cite 2000 or 2001 for full operational status. The architect was Pro-Ark Oy from Helsinki, and the structural engineering fell to Lammel, Lerch & Partner. It opened with a concert by Bruce Springsteen.

For ice hockey, the capacity is 4,712, having been reduced from earlier figures of 4,863 or 4,961. For handball, the capacity is 5,500. For concerts, it can hold up to 7,700 spectators with standing room, or 6,500 if fully seated. The surface is ice or hard court. A public viewing for the 2006 FIFA World Cup drew a crowd, but no official attendance record for a football match exists, because the venue does not host professional football matches.

The arena is not a temple of a single game. It is a hall that holds a city together when the ice is laid down or the stage is set.