Otto-Schott-Sportzentrum

The Otto-Schott-Sportzentrum sits in Mainz-Mombach. The ground is a local field with a running track and a view of the river.

What makes the place different is the renovation that finished in 2011. The rebuild brought a proper track and a new cover for the stands. The work was funded by the city and the club. A new section added later fitted solar panels into the roof, so the place pays for a bit of its own electricity. The pitch is natural grass, and it stays cut short because of the track that rings it. You can see where the sun hits the turf and where it does not.

TSV Schott Mainz play here, but they have not always been able to. When a big name comes through the door, the club hands over to the MEWA Arena, which is the only reason they did not see out the game against Borussia Dortmund in 2023. The 3,000 seats are full only when it matters. The away end never stopped when MSV Duisburg came to town, and the visitors found no answer.

There is no grand entrance or ticket office to admire. You walk through a gate and find yourself on the edge of the pitch. The wind goes straight through the stands, so it is not a comfortable place for a long winter match. The club has not spent money on noise or on showing off. They have spent it on keeping the grass alive and the lights working.