Road to the World Cup

Focus: Nuremberg

The Stadium
Nuremberg’s Franken-Stadion is of crucial historical relevance, as it is situated on the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds. In dealing with its dark past, the city has opted for a relatively open approach with the creation of the Party Rally Grounds Documentation Center. Located near the stadium, the Documentation Center is part of a congress-hall complex planned but never entirely finished by the Nazis.

Situated in the heart of the Dutzendteich Park, the Franken-Stadion has its origins in the 1928 construction of the Städtische Stadion and has since undergone major renovations. The most recent changes came as part of the process of modernization to meet all required World Cup standards, which finished in April 2005. During this process, approximately $67 million were spent on projects such as the extension of the stadium’s capacity to 44,300 (all roofed) or the lowering of the playing field to provide fans in all rows with a clear view of the matches. In addition, all technical equipment, including heating, floodlights, the loudspeaker system and field heating, were upgraded, and so were the fan facilities. The stadium’s two old big screens were replaced by brand-new screens combining for a total of 1,290 sq ft, while the Max-Marlock-Stuben with its new beer garden on Max-Marlock-Platz was opened as a gathering point for fans.

Other features of the Franken-Stadion include, for instance, three TV studios, numerous seats and interior facilities for physically handicapped fans, as well as 18 security cameras to cover both the stands and the wider stadium area.

Where Do I Hang If I Don’t Have Tickets?
In Nuremberg, visitors can be sure to find tons of places to meet up with other fans and follow the action in an exciting atmosphere. The city has a variety of pubs and bars, which are prepared to surprise their audiences with numerous soccer-related events, such as the “Kick and Groove Kneipenfestival” (pub festival) or culinary highlights from the respective countries doing battle. For the duration of the World Cup, some pubs and bars will only be closed between 5 and 6 a.m.

Meanwhile, the area surrounding the Franken-Stadion will be experienced by visitors as a leisure and sports area featuring an international flair. Even though information on public viewing has yet to be released, fans without tickets should be provided with a gathering point to watch all the matches somewhere near the stadium or in the city’s historic district.

Grub, Pubs and Going All Night
When it comes to food, drinks and dancing the night away, the easy choice for all visitors is the city’s picturesque historical district. You can be sure to meet plenty of fellow U.S. fans here, as Americans (and Brits) make up Nuremberg’s second largest tourist group.

For lunch and dinner, take your pick from a long list of international restaurants offering highlights from all over the world, including France, Greece, Italy, Asia, Latin-America and more. As in most of Germany, good Italian eateries are not hard to come by in Nuremberg’s historic district, as the chefs at popular restaurants such as A Tavola or Della Nonna will be eager to prove. Should you be up for something more exotic, though, try Mediterranean eateries such as El Turco or Estragon or keep your eyes out for the Oriental cuisine of Cleopatra. Meanwhile, traditional Franconian places such as Bäckerhof, Schnitzelria or Kopernikus Garten will be offering a variety of local specialties. And for those looking for a more familiar taste, the historical district is also home to two American eateries—Chong’s Diner and Life.

After dinner, there’s nothing better than washing it down with a cold beer and discussing the day’s matches with other fans. To do so, simply stay where you are and check out Nuremberg’s famous pub and bar scene, featuring highlights such as two Irish Pubs, the Jazz Studio or the always popular Warsteiner Boulevard. In addition, many beer gardens will be open during the summer, the majority also being located in the city’s historical district. To round off your day, celebrate your team’s victory at one of the numerous clubs and discos nearby.

Other Must-Do’s
For three days in late June, 2006, up to 500 “Stadt(Ver)führungen”—guided tours of the city—will be inviting visitors to get to know Nuremberg in a truly unique way. In addition to some more traditional hotspots, tour organizers are looking to pay their tribute to the beautiful game by also incorporating some soccer-related stops along the way. At the Franken-Stadion, current players of FC Nuremberg will be showing participants their locker rooms, while former stars of the club will explain why the German National Team used to consist exclusively of FC Nuremberg and Spielvereinigung Fürth players.

How To Get Around
To take full advantage of Nuremberg’s good public-transportation system, look for a VGN ticket counter and decide between the 7 day MobiCard (16 euros) or the 31 day MobiCard (50 euros). For the duration of its validity, this pass will allow you to take up to 5 people with you on all buses, trams and subway lines in Nuremberg starting at 9 a.m. everyday. And if you’re planning on turning nighttime into day, that won’t be a problem either, as some extra euros will make your MobiCard valid 24/7. For a complete list of VGN ticket counters, check out www.vgn.de/produkte/verkaufsstellen/nbg/.