The Red Bull Arena – our stadium profiled

November 11, 2021 - 13:00

RB Leipzig have played their home games at the Red Bull Arena since 2010 | The stadium has a rich history | Plenty of measures taken to modernise the ground in recent years

Our stadium. Our home. Our fortress: Every fan has a special place in their heart for the Red Bull Arena, where we play our home games.

For many RB Leipzig fans, a trip to the Red Bull Arena is like going home. There, families meet, cheer on the team and feel right at home in a place full of history, and with a bright future ahead of it.

History as the Zentralstadion

RB Leipzig have played their home games at this historic stadium, which is in the centre of our city with a population of 600,000 people, since 2010.

Until 1998, the “Stadion der Hundertausend” was located here, which was built between 1954 and 1956 and was more commonly known as the Zentralstadion Leipzig (Central stadium). Athletics events and football games were the main sports hosted here. An incredible 110,000 fans attended an international between East Germany and Czechoslovakia on 27th October 1957. The crowd of 100,000 for the first-tier match between SC Rotation Leipzig and Lokomotive Leipzig on 9th September 1956 remains a record for a league match in Germany. The stadium was closed in 1994 due to the poor condition it was in.

The foundations for the new arena were laid in 2000 on the occasion of the DFB’s 100th birthday, which was actually founded in Leipzig. The old wall of the Zentralstadion was retained, and the new stadium was built in the middle – exactly where the old pitch and running track were located.

The new Zentralstadion was officially reopened on 16th and 17th July 2004, with the ‘1st International Football Tournament at the Zentralstadion,’ and then hosted games at the 2005 Confederations Cup and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Future as the Red Bull Arena

The stadium became the home of the Bulls in 2010/11 and was suitably renamed the Red Bull Arena. It was officially opened under its new name on 24th July 2010 with a friendly against FC Schalke 04 in front of 21,566 fans. Nico Frommer scored the first goal at the ground in a 2-1 defeat to the then-Bundesliga outfit. The first competitive goal was netted by Steven Lewerenz in a 1-1 draw against Türkiyemspor Berlin on 6th August 2010.

The record crowd for the new ground was set on 6th November 2021 in a Bundesliga game against Borussia Dortmund. 43,429 fans packed into the Red Bull Arena to watch RB win 2-1.

Rebuilt into a football paradise

In December 2016, RB Leipzig agreed to buy the stadium, including the 41m2 area in front of the stadium, known as the Festwiese.

On 28th April 2017, the city of Leipzig approved the planning permission from RB Leipzig to increase the capacity, which allowed us to start rebuilding and expanding the Red Bull Arena on 5th September 2019. The project should be completed by 2024.

After the first phase of the rebuild was completed, the Red Bull Arena now has a capacity of 47,069, including space for 10,500 fans to stand. That capacity is reduced to 41,122 for international games, with standing not permitted there. The rebuild of the ground focused on massively improving the spectator’s comfort. This included easier access routes, a new signposting system, additional kiosks, a new merchandise store in the stadium, additional entertainment elements, the introduction of digital tickets plus cashless payment throughout the whole ground.

The rebuild of the Red Bull Arena

The blue seats in the stadium will be replaced with red and white ones by 2022 to represent our club colours.

As well as hosting RB Leipzig and Germany national team matches, the Red Bull Arena is also used for large concerts. The likes of Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Elton John, Herbert Grönemeyer, Helene Fischer and Rammstein have all performed there so far.

Short history:

6th November 2021:

The first game with the new Signify lighting concept at the Red Bull Arena and a new attendance record (43,429) in a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.

20th August 2021:

First home game in the rebuilt Red Bull Arena

5th September 2019:
The rebuild and expansion begins with the diggers on the stadium wall.

13th September 2017:

First UEFA Champions League game at the Red Bull Arena (RB Leipzig 1-1 AS Monaco).

28th April 2017:

The city of Leipzig approves RB Leipzig’s planning permission to expand the Red Bull Arena.

December 2016:

Red Bull agree a deal to buy the Zentralstadion from Prof. Dr. Michael Kölmel.

10th September 2016:

First Bundesliga game at the Red Bull Arena (RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund).

8th May 2016:

42,559 fans are at a sold-out Red Bull Arena to celebrate promotion to the Bundesliga (RB Leipzig 2-0 Karlsruher SC).

August 2015:

A number of building projects are completed (including new VIP and press areas and new video boards).

3rd March 2015:

The first sold-out crowd in the history of the Red Bull Arena (43,348), as RBL host VfL Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal round of 16 (2-0 loss). This figure would stand until November 2021.

3rd May 2014:

42,713 fans are in attendance as RB Leipzig beat 1. FC Saarbrücken 5-1 to seal promotion to the 2. Bundesliga – a new club record attendance.

6th August 2010:

4,028 spectators attend RB Leipzig’s first-ever competitive fixture at the Red Bull Arena, which also featured the club’s maiden goal at the stadium, in a 1-1 draw against Türkiyemspor Berlin.

24th July 2010:
The Red Bull Arena officially opens its doors with a friendly against FC Schalke 04.

1st July 2010:

Officially renamed the Red Bull Arena.

June 2006:

Hosted four group stage matches and one round of 16 game during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

June 2005:

Hosted two group stage games and the bronze medal game during the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. After a 1-1 draw between France and South Korea on 18th June, Zinédine Zidane kicked the door to the away dressing room out of frustration. The mark he left is still visible today.

16th/17th July 2004:

The Zentralstadion is officially opened.

Spring 2000:

The old Zentralstadion is torn down, as construction on the new stadium begins during the summer.

28th January 2000:

Then chancellor Gerhard Schröder attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the new stadium, before demolition work begins on the old Zentralstadion.

Stadium facts

Capacity:

Total capacity (domestic games): 47,069 (terrace: 10,500)
Total capacity (international games): 41,122 (no standing)
Wheelchair spots: 99
Away section:
Option 1: 2,875 seats
Option 2: 4,775 (terrace: 1,911)

Records:

Current record attendance: 43,429
RB Leipzig – Borussia Dortmund | Bundesliga | 6th November 2021
Biggest home victory: 8-0
RB Leipzig – 1. FSV Mainz 05 | Bundesliga | 2nd November 2019

Stats:

Year built: 2000
Stadium length (north to south): 230m
Stadium length (east to west): 210m
Height to the roof: 46.5m
Pitch dimensions: 105m x 68m

Highlights at home

24th July 2010

Friendly | RB Leipzig 1-2 Schalke 04
Attendance: 21,566

The Red Bull Arena is officially opened and RB Leipzig – who have just been promoted to the Regionalliga – put up a very strong fight against Bundesliga runners-up of the season just gone, FC Schalke 04. They even take the lead through Nico Frommer, who writes his name into the history books of our stadium by scoring the opening goal of the game for RBL.

Goals:
1-0 Frommer (11’), 1-1 Edu (24’), 1-2 Rakitic (42’)

12th September 2010

Regionalliga Nord | RB Leipzig 2-1 1. FC Magdeburg
Attendance: 11,341

Attendance figures go above the ten-thousand mark for the first time in a competitive fixture at the Red Bull Arena as 11,341 fans pile in to watch RB Leipzig of the German fourth tier secure a 2-1 win against 1. FC Magdeburg in the Ostderby.

Goals:
1-0 Rost (64’), 2-0 Frahn (66’), 2-1 Verkic (90’)

1st June 2011

Saxony cup | RB Leipzig 1-0 Chemnitzer FC
Attendance: 13,958

A cup win on home soil! RB Leipzig emerge victorious from a hotly-contested regional cup final, defeating Chemnitzer FC 1-0 to win their first regional title. Ingo Hertzsch heads in the decisive goal in the 39th minute in what is the final game of his career.

Goal:
1-0 Hertzsch (39’)

29th July 2011

DFB Pokal first round | RB Leipzig 3-2 VfL Wolfsburg
Attendance: 31,212

The Red Bulls chase the Wolves out of Leipzig in a legendary match! In a game which would turn out to be a momentous night for football in Leipzig, RBL prevail 3-2 winners against VfL Wolfsburg, a side who play three tiers above them and who regularly challenge for the title, in front of 31,212 supporters who witness a Pokal shock for the ages! Captain Daniel Frahn has a tremendous game, scoring all three of Leipzig’s goals, as stadium speaker Tim Thoelke and mascot Bulli (who was nameless at the time) make their first appearances at the Red Bull Arena. 34,341 would attend our second-round match of the DFB-Pokal against FC Augsburg, which we unfortunately lost 1-0.

Goals:
1-0 Frahn (6’), 2-0 Frahn (17’), 2-1 Lakić (25‘), 2-2 Salihamidžić (28’), 3-2 Frahn (45’)

29th May 2013

Regionalliga relegation play-off | RB Leipzig 2-0 Sportfreunde Lotte
Attendance: 30,104

RBL secure promotion to the 3. Liga at the third time of asking, and after a comfortable title win in the Regionalliga Nord/Nordost, we have to seal promotion via a prmotion play-off against Sportfreunde Lotte, Regionalliga West champions. We win the play-off first leg 2-0 which puts us in good stead for the return fixture, which ends in a 2-2 draw, meaning that Leipzig win on aggregate. The importance and hype surrounding this game spreads throughout the city and lures more than 30,000 fans into the Red Bull Arena for the first time in a league match

Goals:
1-0 Kutschke (47’, pen), 2-0 Morys (86’)

3rd May 2014

3. Liga | RB Leipzig 5-1 1. FC Saarbrücken
Attendance: 42,720

RB Leipzig are going to Bundesliga 2! A brilliant 5-1 victory against 1. FC Saarbrücken is the perfect way to cap off a season in which we secure promotion to the second tier and is the best way to start a promotion party! The players walk out to a sea of red and white all around the ground before Daniel Frahn bags a brace and Dominik Kaiser goes one better and scores a hat-trick. The most important victory of Leipzig’s season came just two weeks before as an Anthony Jung winner secured a 1-0 victory over promotion rivals SV Darmstadt in front of 39,147 fans at the Red Bull Arena.

Goals:
1-0 Kaiser (7’), 2-0 Frahn (9’), 3-0 Frahn (14‘), 4-0 Kaiser (35‘), 5-0 Kaiser (48‘), 5-1 Reisinger (52‘)

24th April 2015

Bundesliga 2 | RB Leipzig 2-1 SV Darmstadt

It’s added time in the Red Bull Arena, and the score is 1-1 between RB Leipzig and SV Darmstadt. The Red Bulls need a win to keep their dreams of a third promotion in a row alive. Joshua Kimmich orders keeper Fabio Coltorti to come up for Leipzig’s corner, which is taken by Dominik Kaiser. Omer Damari heads towards goal and Coltorti brings it down with his left foot, turns around to face the goal and scores from five yards into the left corner to win the game for RBL, resulting in scenes of jubilation and ecstasy in one of the most emotional moments in the history of the Red Bull Arena.

Goals:
1-0 Behrens (77’), 1-1 Klostermann (80’), 2-1 Coltorti (90+3’)

8th May 2016

Bundesliga 2 | RB Leipzig 2-0 Karlsruher SC
Attendance: 42,559

The full-time whistle blows at 17:19 in the Red Bull Arena, making our dream come true! Leipzig has a team in the first division once again, as RBL seal promotion to the Bundesliga and complete the climb from the fifth tier to the first tier in just seven years. The game is closely fought for the first 52 minutes and the tension amongst the 42,559 in attendance is growing with every minute. Then, Emil Forsberg gives us the lead and a late own goal from a Marcel Halstenberg free-kick puts the game to bed. We are in the top flight!

Goals:
1-0 Forsberg (52’), 2-0 Vollath (86’, OG)

10th September 2016

Bundesliga | RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Attendance: 42,959

It’s a perfect day. Perfect weather, perfect atmosphere, perfect setting, perfect result. In front of 42,959 supporters, RB Leipzig play their first home fixture in the Bundesliga against the mighty Borussia Dortmund. Naby Keita’s 89th-minute winner from an Oliver Burke assist blows the roof off the stadium in a magical moment for the club, the ground and the city – Leipzig are back in football’s big time.

Goal:
1-0 Keita (89’)

13th September 2017

UEFA Champions League | RB Leipzig 1-1 AS Monaco
Attendance: 42,558

“Ce sont les meilleures équipes. Sie sind die allerbesten Mannschaften. The main event. Die Meister. Die Besten. Les grandes équipes. The champions” – the legendary Champions League anthem rings around the Red Bull Arena for the very first time, as the biggest club competition in European football comes to Leipzig! The match against AS Monaco finishes 1-1, as Emil Forsberg scores the first Champions League in the history of the Red Bull Arena.

Goals:
1-0 Forsberg (32’). 1-1 Tielemans (34’)

2nd November 2019

Bundesliga | RB Leipzig – 1. FSV Mainz 05 8-0
Attendance: 38,517

A goal fest at the Red Bull Arena! An 8-0 win over 1. FSV Mainz 05 sees us record our biggest ever win. We were already five goals to the good at the break, adding a further three in the second half. Timo Werner even bagged a hat-trick on a crazy afternoon.

Goals:
1-0 Sabitzer (5'), 2-0 Werner (30'), 3-0 Nkunku (35'), 4-0 Halstenberg (39'), 5-0 Poulsen (44'), 6-0 Werner (48'), 7-0 Mukiele (50'), 8-0 Werner (87')

17th September 2019

UEFA Champions League | RB Leipzig – Benfica 2-2
Attendance: 38,339

RB Leipzig reach the knockouts of the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history! A dramatic game at the Red Bull Arena sees Benfica lead 2-0 still in the 90th minute. Emil Forsberg, aka Mr. Champions League, pulls one back from the spot in the 90th minute and then equalises in the sixth minute of injury time to send Leipzig through!

Goals:
0-1 Pizzi (20'), 0-2 Vinícius (59'), 1-2 Forsberg (90', penalty), 2-2 Forsberg (96')

10th March 2020

UEFA Champions League | RB Leipzig – Tottenham Hotspur 3-0
Attendance: 42,146

Goals:
1-0 Sabitzer (10'), 2-0, Sabitzer (21'), 3-0 Forsberg (87')

6th November 2021

Bundesliga | RB Leipzig – Borussia Dortmund 2-1
Attendance: 43,429

Over five years since our last and only home win over Borussia Dortmund, number two finally followed on 6th November – and in front of a new club record crowd of 43,429! The Red Bull Arena shone with the new lighting concept and created a unique matchday experience for all fans in attendance. On top of that, the new standing section in Sector B was opened too. Our fans were excellent in the stands and the players matched them on the pitch, deservedly winning 2-1. This was a special, special game, especially considering how long it had been without a full house. The icing on the cake was that club legend Yussuf Poulsen scored the winning goal to send the fans delirious!

Goals:
1-0 Nkunku (29'), 1-1 Reus (52'), 2-1 Poulsen (68')