Erdgas Sportpark
Halle, Germany
Formerly: Kurt-Wabbel-Stadion, Horst-Wessel-Kampfbahn, Kampfbahn der Stadt Halle
It has stood on this site since 1936, long before the modern structure replaced it. The new stadium opened in 2011, built on the same ground where the old Kurt-Wabbel-Stadion once stood. The old building was demolished because it no longer met safety standards, but the exterior wall was spared as a protected monument.
Leuna-Chemie-Stadion sits in the city of Halle. It is home to the local football club, Hallescher FC. The venue is largely single-tiered, meaning the stands rise without the interruption of a second level. This design was chosen to improve the view from every seat. Where the old stadium had a running track around the pitch, the new one is football-specific, removing that barrier between the crowd and the action.
The pitch itself is natural grass, kept in condition by undersoil heating. The record attendance was set on the opening day, when a friendly against Hamburger SV drew a crowd that filled every seat.
The club played in the lower leagues when the stadium was built. The decision to construct a new venue was driven by necessity rather than ambition for the top flight. The project was funded by the city and the state, a joint effort to secure the club's future at a permanent site.