Max-Morlock-Stadion

The Max-Morlock-Stadion in Nuremberg does not hide its history behind a fresh facade. The roof stretches out over the seating. The pitch sits slightly below the surrounding track.

It opened in 1928 as the Städtisches Stadion, long before the city began hosting international tournaments. The name has shifted with the times—Victory Stadium, Frankenstadion, easyCredit-Stadion—but the structure stays the same. The floodlights rise high into the air, casting a harsh light on the green grass.

The renovation cost €56.2 million, a sum that bought better visibility and modern facilities, including a heated pitch and sprinkler system. The stadium was not selected for Euro 2024, but it has hosted plenty of high-stakes games since. The 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup Final was played here, as were six matches at the 1972 Summer Olympics. The 'Battle of Nuremberg', the 2006 World Cup match between Portugal and the Netherlands, took place on this surface. The attendance record is cited as 64,238, though the exact match that set it is unclear. The ground does not need to prove its importance with numbers.