Jahnkampfbahn Wald

The Jahnkampfbahn Wald is located in the Wald district of Solingen. It is a place that does not hide its age, built by the City of Wald before the town was absorbed into Solingen in 1929. The original capacity was significantly higher, accommodating up to 22,000 spectators, a figure that stands as the all-time attendance record set in 1948 during an Oberliga West football match between Preußen Dellbrück and TSG Vohwinkel. Other notable historical events include a 9,000-attendance international field handball match in 1955 and the first German U-15 women's national team match in 2003, attended by 4,000 people.

Following World War II, the stadium required repairs in 1945–1946. It was listed as a historic monument (Denkmalgeschützt) in 1994, with partial protection having been granted in 1987. A major renovation took place from October 1996 to September 1997, funded by the City of Solingen, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and a support association (Förderkreis Jahnkampfbahn e.V.), which also raised 50,000 DM through a sports gala. This renovation reduced the capacity to comply with modern safety standards, resulting in the current official grandstand seating capacity of 4,957. Some sources cite a capacity of approximately 5,000 or 6,600 (including covered seats), but 4,957 is the consistent official figure for the grandstand.

The stadium features a natural grass (Naturrasen) surface. It is currently home to the Solingen Paladins (American Football, Regionalliga West) and the rugby team of WMTV Solingen 1861. While historically associated with football clubs like VfL Solingen-Wald 1897 and VfB Wald, and occasionally used by BSC Union Solingen, the latter's primary ground is the Bezirkssportanlage Brabant. Recent modernization efforts are underway for the stadium's centenary in 2028. In 2025, construction is planned for a roof on the opposite stand, adding 1,300–1,400 covered seats, alongside LED floodlight upgrades. In April 2026, the German Federal Government approved 1.09 million Euro for the complete renewal of the pitch, including drainage and irrigation systems. The venue has also hosted cultural events, such as a 2007 concert by the band Bläck Fööss and filming for the RTL movie Turnschuh-Giganten in 2015.