Curt-Frenzel-Stadion

The long roof of the Curt-Frenzel-Stadion sweeps up towards the sky, a grey wave that has sheltered ice hockey in Augsburg for decades.

It was not always this enclosed. The first embankments of earth were dug in the late 1930s. That changed in 1971, when the roof went on and the name was given to honour Curt Frenzel. But the true transformation came later, when the open-air rink was sealed up for the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The arena reopened in 2013 with a new life.

Inside, the ice is artificial, a smooth white canvas that reflects the lights. The boards are lined with sponsor names, but the real story is in the stands. The capacity is small enough that you can hear the skaters cut into the ice, a sharp hiss that travels up the concrete stairs. This season the crowd has been restless and loyal, packing the seats until the air grew thick. They stayed for every game, twenty-one full houses in a row, a run of games that had the team playing harder than ever before. It is not just a venue; it is the only place in the city where the whole town gathers to watch the panther run.