View source for Volkswagen Arena

{{Short description|Football stadium in Wolfsburg, Germany}}
{{For|the indoor arena in Istanbul, Turkey|Volkswagen Arena Istanbul}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Volkswagen Arena
| image = [[File:VW-Arena (Panorama).jpg|350px]]
| fullname = Volkswagen Arena
| location = [[Wolfsburg]], [[Germany]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|52|25|58|N|10|48|14|E|region:DE-NI_type:landmark_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}
| built = 2001–2002
| opened = 13 December 2002<ref name="Handelsblatt 2002" />
| owner = [[Wolfsburg AG]]
| operator = [[VfL Wolfsburg|VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH]]<ref name="Autogramm 2012" />
| construction_cost = [[Euro|€]]53 million<ref name="vfl-wolfsburg.de" />
| architect = HPP, Dusseldorf<br />nb+b, Wolfsburg
| seating_capacity = 30,000 (League matches)<ref name="vfl-wolfsburg.de" /><br>26,000 (International matches)<ref name="vfl-wolfsburg.de" />
| former_names = 
| tenants = [[VfL Wolfsburg]] (2002–present)<br>[[Germany national football team]] (selected matches)
| suites = 31<ref name="vfl-wolfsburg.de" />
| dimensions = 105×68 m
| surface = hybrid grass<ref name="stadionwelt-business.de" /> 
}}

'''Volkswagen Arena''' ({{IPA|de|ˈfɔlksvaːɡn̩ ʔaˌʁeːnaː|-|}}; also known as the '''VfL Wolfsburg Arena''' due to [[UEFA]] sponsorship regulations) is a [[Soccer-specific stadium|football stadium]] in the [[Germany|German]] city of [[Wolfsburg]], [[Lower Saxony]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Neues VW-Stadion | newspaper = Berliner Kurier | date = 2002-02-26 | page = 30 | language = de}}</ref> It was opened in 2002 and named after the automotive group [[Volkswagen|Volkswagen AG]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ndr.de/sport/fussball/VfL-Wolfsburg-Volkswagen-Arena,stadion282.html | website = ndr.de | title = Volkswagen Arena | access-date = 2015-12-01 | date = 2014-08-03 | language = de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.horizont.net/marketing/nachrichten/-Vfl-Wolfsburg-Stadion-heisst-Volkswagen-Arena-35868 | title = VfL Wolfsburg Stadion heisst Volkswagen Arena | website = horizont.net | date = 2002-02-25 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The Volkswagen Arena has a capacity of 30,000: 22,000 seats and 8,000 standing places.<ref name="vfl-wolfsburg.de">{{cite web | url = https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/info/arena/volkswagen-arena/daten-und-fakten.html | website = vfl-wolfsburg.de | title = Daten und Fakten | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> It is located in the [[Allerpark]] and is the home stadium of the football team [[VfL Wolfsburg]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Die Lage: VfL Wolfsburg | newspaper = Die Tageszeitung | date = 2002-12-12 | page = 5 | language = de}}</ref>

==History==
In 1997, [[VfL Wolfsburg]] was promoted to the [[Bundesliga]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ndr.de/sport/fussball/Die-Geschichte-des-VfL-Wolfsburg,wolfsburg80.html | title = Die Geschichte des VfL Wolfsburg | website = ndr.de | date = 2015-09-11 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> the German premier league, which led the [[Volkswagen Group]] to reinforce its commitment to the club.<ref>{{cite news | title = Und rollt und rollt... | author = Bertram Job | date = 1997-12-05 | newspaper = Die Zeit | number = 50 | language = de}}</ref> Discussions on the construction of a new stadium began at the end of 1997 because the [[VfL-Stadion am Elsterweg]] did not meet the requirements of the Bundesliga.<ref>{{cite news | title = Reimanns Visionen | newspaper = Frankfurter Rundschau | date = 1997-12-15 | page = 26 | language = de}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Annette Harth |author2=Ulfert Herlyn |author3=Gitta Scheller |author4=Wulf Tessin | title = Faszination Wolfsburg: 1938–2012 | publisher = Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften | location = Wiesbaden | year = 2012 | isbn = 978-3-531-18664-1 | page = 102 | language = de}}</ref> Construction of the new stadium finally began in 2001. The stadium was initially referred to as the "Arena an der Berliner Brücke" ("Arena by the Berlin Bridge").<ref>{{cite news | title = Erster Spatenstich für neues Stadion in Wolfsburg | newspaper = Frankfurter Neue Presse | date = 2001-05-19 | language = de}}</ref> At the time, the cost of the new stadium was estimated at 99.8 million [[Deutsche Mark|DM]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Thema des Tages | newspaper = Thüringische Landeszeitung | date = 2001-05-19 | language = de}}</ref> The constructor of the Volkswagen Arena was the [[Wolfsburg AG]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.baunetz.de/meldungen/Meldungen-Richtfest_fuer_Volkswagen-Arena_in_Wolfsburg_11103.html | website = baunetz.de | title = Richtfest für Volkswagen-Arena in Wolfsburg | date = 2002-05-08 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> Both the city and the Volkswagen Group each own half of the company.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wolfsburg-ag.com/wolfsburg-ag/ueber-uns/daten-fakten.html | website = wolfsburg-ag.com | title = Daten und Fakten zur Wolfsburg AG | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> Alongside the start of construction of the arena, even more leisure and recreation projects were realised in the [[Allerpark]], including the BadeLand Wolfsburg water park.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Annette Harth |author2=Ulfert Herlyn |author3=Gitta Scheller |author4=Wulf Tessin | title = Faszination Wolfsburg: 1938–2012 | publisher = Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften | location = Wiesbaden | year = 2012 | isbn = 978-3-531-18664-1 | page = 103 | language = de}}</ref> The [[topping-out]] ceremony for the stadium took place in May 2002.<ref>{{cite news | author = Andreas Pahlmann | title = Von wegen Provinz | language = de | newspaper = Berliner Morgenpost | date = 2002-12-07 | page = 28}}</ref> The work was completed in December 2002 after a total of 19 months of construction.<ref name="stadionbetreiber.de" />

The stadium was officially opened on 13 December 2002 and cost a total of [[Euro|€]]53 million.<ref name="Handelsblatt 2002">{{cite news | title = Endlich raus aus der Provinz | newspaper = Handelsblatt | date = 2002-12-13 | page = 44 | language = de}}</ref><ref name="vfl-wolfsburg.de" /> The [[Kicker (sports magazine)|Kicker sports magazine]] called the Volkswagen Arena a "temple with a glass facade".<ref>{{cite news | title = Mitten im emotionalen Zentrum | newspaper = Financial Times Deutschland | date = 2002-12-13 | page = 39 | language = de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | date = 2002-12-14 | title = Einmal hat er vor Wut ein Hütchen weggehauen | author = Peter Unfried | newspaper = Stuttgarter Zeitung | page = 39 | language = de}}</ref> Other media connected the opening of the stadium with VfL Wolfsburg's ambition to play in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]].<ref>{{citation  | author = Jörg Marwedel | title = Der Arena-Effekt | newspaper = Süddeutsche Zeitung | date = 2002-12-13 | page = 31 | language = de}}</ref> The number of spectators at home games significantly increased in the second half of the [[2002–03 Bundesliga|2002-03 season]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Wölfe weihen VW-Arena ein | newspaper = Saarbrücker Zeitung | date = 2002-12-11 | language = de}}</ref> The first football match at the stadium was played between VfL Wolfsburg and VfB Stuttgart.<ref>{{cite news | title = Abschied in die Winterpause | newspaper = Darmstädter Echo | date = 2002-12-14 | language = de}}</ref> In April 2003, tickets for the match against [[Hannover 96]] at the Volkswagen Arena were sold out for the first time. The first international match at the stadium took place in June of the same year between [[Germany national football team|Germany]] and [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Volkswagen Arena feiert Geburtstag | url = http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?folder=sites&news_id=162&site=news_detail | website = stadionwelt.de | date = 2003-12-12 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> In the following years, the stadium has been used for concerts performed by artists such as [[Herbert Grönemeyer]] (2003), [[Anastacia]] (2005) and [[Elton John]] (2006).<ref>{{cite news | title = Elton John singt in Volkswagen Arena | newspaper = Autogramm | number = 4 | year = 2006 | language = de}}</ref> The celebration for the 25th million [[VW Golf]] produced was also held in the Volkswagen Arena.<ref>{{cite news | author = Gerhard Nöhrer | title = Partylaune im Golfland | newspaper = Kleine Zeitung | date = 2007-06-01 | page = 48 | language = de}}</ref>

In 2008, the Volkswagen Arena saw a record attendance.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?folder=sites&news_id=2192&site=news_detail | title = VW-Arena mit Zuschauerrekord | website = stadionwelt.de | date = 2008-06-02 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> In the same year, a three-storey fan building was built to the northwest of the stadium.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?folder=sites&news_id=2250&site=news_detail | website = stadionwelt.de | title = VfL-Fans erhalten ein neues Domizil | date = 2008-06-18 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> In the following year, a number of changes were made in and around the stadium,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/info/arena/volkswagen-arena/arena-historie.html | title = Arena-Historie | website = vfl-wolfsburg.de | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> for example the construction of new training grounds in 2009 and the refurbishment of the box seats, among others, in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fussball24.de/fussball/1/7/38/72838-wolfsburg-nimmt-neues-trainingsgelaende-in-betrieb | website = fussball24.de | title = Wolfsburg nimmt neues Trainingsgelände in Betrieb | date = 2009-03-11 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?folder=sites&news_id=7879&site=news_detail | title = Hospitality-Flächen an gestiegene Nachfrage angepasst | website = stadionwelt.de | date = 2012-09-07 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The largest expansion in the immediate vicinity of the Volkswagen Arena began in 2013,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.az-online.de/sport/vfl-wolfsburg/fussball-allerpark-entstehen-267-millionen-euro-neues-vfl-stadion-center-2931884.html | website = az-online.de | title = Die Heimat der Wölfe | date = 2013-05-30 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> when the 5,000-capacity [[AOK Stadium]] was built next to the arena.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://hannover.sportbuzzer.de/bundesliga/artikel/aok-stadion-rundgang-ueber-das-neue-stadiongelaende/25031/72 | website = sportbuzzer.de | title = AOK-Stadion: Rundgang über das neue Stadiongelände | author = Normen Scholz | date = 2014-09-07 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> This is now used by teams such as the VfL Wolfsburg women's and youth teams.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/info/arena/aok-stadion.html | website = vfl-wolfsburg.de | title = Heimspielstätte der VfL-Frauen und U23 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The VfL Center, a new three-storey training centre for the professional football players, was also built.<ref name="wolfsburger-nachrichten.de">{{cite web | url = http://www.wolfsburger-nachrichten.de/sport/vfl_wolfsburg/luxus-pur-so-sieht-das-neue-vfl-center-aus-id1675853.html | website = wolfsburger-nachrichten.de | title = Luxus pur – So sieht das neue VfL-Center aus | date = 2014-11-24 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> It was initially criticised by some fans.{{why|date=January 2024}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.waz-online.de/VfL/Aktuell/VfL-Center-Unmut-bei-Fans | website = waz-online.de | title = VfL-Center: Unmut bei Fans | date = 2014-11-18 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref>

By moving the [[professionalism in association football|professional footballers]] from the Volkswagen Arena into the VfL Center, space was freed up for a [[chapel]] as well as for other facilities.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?folder=sites&news_id=13055&site=news_detail | title = Wolfsburger Kapelle eingeweiht | website = stadionwelt.de | date = 2015-11-12 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The VfL FußballWelt (VfL FootballWorld) opened in 2015 in the immediate vicinity of the Volkswagen Arena, providing space for an interactive exhibition about VfL Wolfsburg.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.waz-online.de/Wolfsburg/Stadt-Wolfsburg/Die-neue-VfL-Fussballwelt-Ein-Volltreffer-fuer-alle-Fans | title = Die neue VfL-Fußballwelt: Ein Volltreffer für alle Fans | website = waz-online.de | date = 2015-02-09 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> This traces back to the club's football museum from 2004.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?folder=sites&news_id=160&site=news_detail | title = Fußball-Museum ab 2006 | date = 2004-02-24 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | website = stadionwelt.de | language = de}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
[[File:Volkswagen Arena Wolfsburg.jpg|thumbnail|View from the west side (2004)]]
[[File:Volkswagen Arena Fassade 2.jpg|thumbnail|Facade of the stadium (2012)]]

The most striking feature of the stadium is its sophisticated roof,<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Filigraner Verbund | author = Michael Brüggemann | magazine = Deutsche Bauzeitschrift | number = 4 | year = 2003 | pages = 38–43 | language = de}}</ref> which was designed as a truss-supported [[membrane]] structure.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://structurae.de/bauwerke/volkswagen-arena | website = structurae.de | title = Volkswagen Arena | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> 32 radial trusses, each 40 metres in length, make up the support system for the fire-retardant [[PVC]] membrane, which is 15,000 square metres large.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.archiexpo.de/prod/ceno-membrane-technology-gmbh/product-132223-1504067.html | website = archiexpo.de | title = Membran-Architektur | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151211123701/http://www.archiexpo.de/prod/ceno-membrane-technology-gmbh/product-132223-1504067.html | archive-date = 11 December 2015 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The membrane is translucent, aims to improve the atmosphere in the stadium for the spectators and supports the natural growth of the grass on the pitch.<ref>{{cite news | title = Am Rande der Erlebniswelt | newspaper = Stadionwelt | number = 11 | year = 2004 | pages = 64–67}}</ref>

===Seating===
The Volkswagen Arena is a [[tribune (architecture)|two-tier]] stadium with a surrounding promenade.<ref name="vfl-wolfsburg.de" /> The lower level has an inclination of approximately 25 degrees, the upper level 40 degrees.<ref name="stadionwelt.de">{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?folder=sites&id=183&site=stadiondaten_d | website = stadionwelt.de | title = Stadiondaten: Volkswagen Arena | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The ground area of the entire plot is around 115,000 square metres and the floor space of the stadium is around 28,000 square metres.<ref name="Autogramm 2012">{{cite news | title = Das Herz der Wölfe | newspaper = Autogramm | number = 11 | year = 2012 | language = de}}</ref> The stadium's capacity of 30,000 consists of 22,000 seats and 8,000 standing places.  The standing places can be converted into 4,000 seats.<ref name="vfl-wolfsburg.de" /> The guest block of the Volkswagen Arena contains 1,886 seats and 900 standing places with separate kiosks and toilet areas.<ref name="Autogramm 2012" /> All seats in the Volkswagen Arena are completely covered.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.expedia.de/vc/reisefuehrer/volkswagen-arena-wolfsburg | website = expedia.de | title = Reiseführer: Volkswagen Arena | access-date = 2015-12-01 | date = 2014-10-01 | language = de}}</ref>

A total of 31 [[box (theatre)|boxes]] with 332 seats are available at the stadium, which also offers 198<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/info/business/hospitality/executive-seats.html | website = vfl-wolfsburg.de | title = Executive Seats | access-date = 2016-01-28 | language = de}}</ref> so-called ''Executive Seats'', which are integrated into the VIP block, and 1,434 ''Business Seats'' with direct access to restaurants.<ref name="stadionbetreiber.de">{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionbetreiber.de/index.php?id=38 | title = Volkswagen Arena | website = stadionbetreiber.de | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The Volkswagen Arena is home to a 102-square-metre-large Skylounge above both grandstands with 35 seats.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/info/business/events/raeumlichkeiten/skylounge.html | title = Skylounge | website = vfl-wolfsburg.de | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> This offers a view of the entire stadium and is also used as a venue for other events and even weddings.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.waz-online.de/Wolfsburg/Stadt-Wolfsburg/Hier-koennen-Wolfsburger-heiraten | website = waz-online.de | title = Hier können Wolfsburger heiraten... | date = 2014-07-14 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wolfsburg.de/trauzimmer | title = Trauzimmer | website = wolfsburg.de | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The control room, which houses systems such as the [[fire alarm system]] and police equipment, is located above the Skylounge.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.waz-online.de/Wolfsburg/Stadt-Wolfsburg/VW-Arena-Hier-wird-rund-um-die-Uhr-gearbeitet | title = VW-Arena: Hier wird rund um die Uhr gearbeitet! | website = waz-online.de | access-date = 2015-12-01 | date = 2015-03-06 | language = de}}</ref>

The special features of the Volkswagen Arena include seats and spaces for people with [[disabilities]] and their companions. Spectators with impaired vision are provided with a total of 10 seats with headphones so that they can hear the commentator during the match. Furthermore, 80 spaces are available for spectators in [[wheelchair]]s. Families with children can book seats in a separate area at the Volkswagen Arena.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://vfl-wolfsburg.de/fans/kids.html | title = VfL Wolfsburg Kids | website = vfl-wolfsburg.de | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151210051246/https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/fans/kids.html | archive-date = 10 December 2015 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> VfL Wolfsburg also offers [[child care|childcare]] during all home games at the stadium. A separate area is provided for younger and shorter spectators so that they can get a better view of the match.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?folder=sites&news_id=168&site=news_detail | website = stadionwelt.de | title = Familienblock in der Volkswagen Arena wird vergrößert | date = 2003-06-27 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref>

===Technology===
VfL Wolfsburg also became the first Bundesliga club to play in an LED-lit stadium when the Volkswagen Arena was equipped with a new LED floodlight system at the start of 2017. The old floodlighting of the Volkswagen Arena consists of more than 170 elements with lamps, each weighing about 35 kilos. They were all mounted under the roof and together produce about 1,500 [[lux]]. The 84 speakers in the stadium, which weigh 120 kilos each and are likewise mounted under the roof, produce a total of 600 [[watt]]s.<ref name="stadionwelt.de" /> There are also two [[video wall]]s covering an area of 53 square metres in the stadium.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionwelt-business.de/news/news_led-technik.php | website = stadionwelt-business.de | title = Anzeigetafeln/Videowalls in deutschen Stadien und Hallen | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The pitch is covered in hybrid grass,<ref name="stadionwelt-business.de">{{cite web | url = http://www.stadionwelt-business.de/index.php?news_id=7009&rubrik=ausstattung&site=news_view | website = stadionwelt-business.de | title = Hybrides Hightech-Rasensystem für den VfL Wolfsburg | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> which is natural grass that is reinforced with [[synthetic fiber|synthetic fibres]], thus improving its weatherability.<ref>{{cite news | title = Hybridrasen für Fußball auf dem Vormarsch | newspaper = Bonner General-Anzeiger | date = 2014-05-15 | page = 16 | language = de}}</ref> The Volkswagen Arena was the first Bundesliga stadium to introduce such a system.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fcbayern.de/de/news/news/2014/hybridrasen-fuer-trainingsplatz-und-allianz-arena.php | title = Der Ball beim FCB rollt künftig auf Hybridrasen | website = fcbayern.de | date = 2014-07-04 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.allianz-arena.de/de/aktuell/news-archiv/15068.php | website = allianz-arena.de | title = Die Zukunft ist hybrid: Der neue Rasen in der Allianz Arena | date = 2014-07-08 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151211084442/https://www.allianz-arena.de/de/aktuell/news-archiv/15068.php | archive-date = 11 December 2015 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> From the outset, the pitch has been heated so that matches can be played regardless of ice and snow.<ref>{{cite news | title = Hier spielt Viechtach unterirdisch mit | newspaper = Passauer Neue Presse | date = 2002-12-31 | language = de}}</ref>

The Volkswagen Arena was also the first Bundesliga stadium to debut 5G technology on match day 5 of the 2019/2020 campaign  against Hoffenheim.<ref name="thestadiumbusiness.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2019/09/24/bundesliga-showcases-5g-tech-wolfsburg-stadium/|title=Bundesliga showcases 5G tech at Wolfsburg stadium|date=2019-09-24|website=The Stadium Business|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/5g-technology-sprint-speed-shot-power-vodafone-wolfsburg-5488|title=5G technology and real-time app in the Bundesliga for 2019/20|website=bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website|language=en|access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref><ref name="Streeter">{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidersport.com/2019/09/26/wolfsburg-5g/|title=Wolfsburg's Volkswagen Arena debuts 5G technology|last=Streeter|first=Joe|date=2019-09-26|website=Insider Sport|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref><ref name="sportspromedia.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/bundesliga-stadiums-dfl-vodafone-5g-augmented-reality-app|title=Bundesliga fans get better connection in DFL's 5G Vodafone deal - SportsPro Media|website=www.sportspromedia.com|date=4 July 2019 |access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref>  5G technology, when it comes to Bundesliga stadiums, is done as a collaborative effort between the DFL and Vodafone.<ref name="sportspromedia.com"/> In addition to the debut of 5G, select fans were also able to experience the debut of a new real time football stat app that was done as a collaborative effort between the DFL and French augmented reality company, Immersiv.io.<ref name="thestadiumbusiness.com"/><ref name="Streeter"/><ref name="sportspromedia.com"/> The app is able to display stats such as, enhanced match statistics and player performance,<ref name="insideworldfootball.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2019/09/25/bundesliga-vodafone-trial-5g-mobile-app-wolfsburg/|title=Bundesliga and Vodafone trial 5G mobile app at Wolfsburg|date=2019-09-25|website=Inside World Football|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref> stats that were once not always available to the stadium attending fans in real-time. The data is fed to the app via Bundesliga subsidiary company Sportec Solutions,<ref name="insideworldfootball.com"/> which is helped on by its partnership with ChyronHego, who introduced new visual tracking technology which allows for more accurate data acquisition.

==Ownership==
The builder and owner of the Volkswagen Arena has always been the [[Wolfsburg AG]].<ref>{{cite book | page = 606 | title = Immobilienökonomie – Stadtplanerische Grundlagen | series = 3 | editor = Karl-Werner Schulte | edition = 2nd | publisher = Oldenburg | location = München | year = 2011 | isbn = 978-3-486-59754-7 | language = de}}</ref> In 2002, the stadium was handed over to the [[VfL Wolfsburg|VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wolfsburg-ag.com/freizeit/allerpark-wolfsburg/volkswagen-arena.html | website = wolfsburg-ag.com | title = Volkswagen Arena | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> which has been responsible for its operation ever since.<ref name="Autogramm 2012" /> 100 percent of the shares in the company are held by [[Volkswagen AG]], which also [[Sponsor (commercial)|sponsors]] the VfL Wolfsburg men's, women's and youth teams.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.volkswagen.de/de/markenwelt/partner-des-fussballs/vereine/vfl-wolfsburg.html | website = volkswagen.de | title = Vereine: VfL Wolfsburg | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151126095200/http://www.volkswagen.de/de/markenwelt/partner-des-fussballs/vereine/vfl-wolfsburg.html | archive-date = 26 November 2015 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Volkswagen's commitment to VfL Wolfsburg was already the subject of media reports before the construction of the Volkswagen Arena.<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine = Der Spiegel | number = 20  | date = 1999-05-17 | title = Kicker und Käfer | author = Matthias Wulzinger | language = de}}</ref> In recent years, the link between the Volkswagen Group and the football club has also been discussed several times.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.handelsblatt.com/sport/fussball/bundesliga-sponsoring-vw-will-in-der-premiumklasse-mitspielen/6119200.html | website = handelsblatt.com | title = VW will in der Premiumklasse mitspielen | author = Stefan Merx | date = 2012-01-27 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The financing of the Volkswagen Arena was split evenly between Volkswagen and Wolfsburg AG.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.jungewelt.de/2015/08-07/008.php | website = jungewelt.de | title = Spieltempel vom Steuerzahler | author = Jens Berger | date = 2015-08-07 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> Given that Volkswagen also owns half of the shares of Wolfsburg AG, the city of Wolfsburg owns a calculated share of 25 percent. The [[Norddeutsche Landesbank]] provided a [[loan (bank)|loan]] running into millions of euros for the financing of the Volkswagen Arena, which is to be repaid over the course of 29 years.<ref name="Handelsblatt 2002" />

==Matches==
The first international match of the [[Germany national football team]] in the Volkswagen Arena to date was held on 1 June 2003, when Germany defeated the [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada national team]] with a final score of 4–1.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/testspiel-gegen-kanada-dfb-elf-siegt-dank-starker-zweiter-haelfte-a-251180.html | website = spiegel.de | title = Testspiel gegen Kanada: DFB-Elf siegt dank starker zweiter Hälfte | date = 2003-06-01 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> It was the only match for Die Mannschaft there until 20 March 2019, when they held an international friendly against the [[Serbia national football team]], with a final score of 1-1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-bh/news/germany-vs-serbia-tv-channel-live-stream-squad-news-preview/1w7jcg8rjdzl91gl2plfai4wgw|title=Germany vs Serbia: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref> This match marked as the kick off of Germany's new partnership with Volkswagen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dfb.de/news/detail/dfb-kick-off-new-partnership-with-vw-197335/|title=DFB kick off new partnership with VW|website=DFB - Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V.|language=de|access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref>

Furthermore, the men's national teams of [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]] played at the stadium in the run-up to the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], when Poland won the friendly match with a final score of 1–0.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.focus.de/sport/fussball/wm2006/testspiele_aid_109936.html | website = focus.de | title = Testspiele: Polen siegt glücklich, England überzeugt | date = 2006-06-03 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The Volkswagen Arena was also used as a venue of the [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup]]. During the tournament, the stadium was called the "Arena in Allerpark Wolfsburg". The temporary renaming of the stadium was welcomed by the operators because it attracted more attention to the Allerpark, thus enabling it to become better known.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/info/frauen/aktuelles/detailseite/artikel/eine-grosse-chance-den-allerpark-bekannter-zu-machen-16299.html | title = Eine große Chance, den Allerpark bekannter zu machen | website = vfl-wolfsburg.de | date = 2011-05-20 | access-date = 2015-12-01 | language = de}}</ref> The [[Germany women's national football team|German women's national football team]] was eliminated from the tournament with a 1–0 loss against the [[Japan women's national football team|Japanese women's national team]] in Wolfsburg.<ref>{{cite news | title = Tränen statt Titel | newspaper = Bonner General-Anzeiger | date = 2011-07-11 | page = 20 | language = de}}</ref>

===2011 FIFA Women's World Cup matches===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;;" width="100%"
|-
!Date
!Time ([[Central European Time|CET]])
!Team #1
!Result
!Team #2
!Round
!Spectators
|-
|27 June 2011||{{center|18:00}}|| align=right|{{fbw-rt|MEX}}||style="text-align:center;"|{{center|1–1}}||{{fbw|ENG}}||{{center|[[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Group B|Group B]]}}||style="text-align:center;"|18,702
|-
|3 July 2011||{{center|18:15}}|| align=right|{{fbw-rt|BRA}}||style="text-align:center;"|{{center|3–0}}||{{fbw|NOR}}||{{center|[[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Group D|Group D]]}}||style="text-align:center;"|26,067
|-
|6 July 2011||{{center|20:45}}|| align=right|{{fbw-rt|SWE}}||style="text-align:center;"|{{center|2–1}}||{{fbw|USA}}||{{center|[[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Group C|Group C]]}}||style="text-align:center;"|23,468
|-
|9 July 2011||{{center|20:45}}|| align=right|{{fbw-rt|GER}}||style="text-align:center;"|{{center|0–1 ([[Overtime (sports)#Association football|a.e.t]])}}||{{fbw|JPN}}||{{center|[[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup knockout stage#Quarter-finals|Quarter-finals]]}}||style="text-align:center;"|26,067
|}

==Panorama==
[[File:Volkswagen-Arena Gästeblock.JPG|1000px|thumb|center|Panorama of the Volkswagen Arena]]

==Milestone matches==
{{footballbox collapsible
|date       = 15 December 2002
|time       = 17:30 [[Central European Time|CET]]
|team1      = {{flagicon|Germany}} [[VfL Wolfsburg]]
|score      = 1–2
|report     = 
|team2      = [[VfB Stuttgart]] {{flagicon|Germany}}
|goals1     = [[Tomislav Marić|Marić]] {{goal|76|[[Penalty kick (association football)|pen.]]}}
|goals2     = [[Thomas Schneider (footballer)|T. Schneider]] {{goal|35}} <br> [[Fernando Meira|Meira]] {{goal|55}}
|stadium    = [[2002–03 Bundesliga]] <br> First Bundesliga Match
|attendance = 24,147
|referee    = [[Markus Merk]]
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|date=12 July 2003
|time=20:00 [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
|team1={{flagicon|Germany}} [[VfL Wolfsburg]]
|score= 2–0
|report=
|team2= [[FC Marek Dupnitsa|Marek Dupnitsa]] {{flagicon|Bulgaria}}
|goals1=[[Martin Petrov|Petrov]] {{goal|43}}<br />[[Dorinel Munteanu|Munteanu]] {{goal|90|pen.}}
|goals2=
|stadium=[[2003 UEFA Intertoto Cup]]<br>First UEFA Intertoto Cup Match
|attendance=6,350
|referee=Gylfi Thór Orrason ([[Football Association of Iceland|Iceland]])
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|date       = 24 October 2006
|time       = 19:30 [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
|team1      = {{flagicon|Germany}} [[VfL Wolfsburg]]
|score      = 1–0
|report     = 
|team2      = [[SC Freiburg]] {{flagicon|Germany}}
|goals1     = [[Mike Hanke|Hanke]] {{goal|69}}
|goals2     = 
|stadium    = [[2006–07 DFB-Pokal]] <br> First DFB-Pokal Match
|attendance = 6,497
|referee    = Christian Schößling
}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Volkswagen Arena}}
* [https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/info/arena.html Official website of VfL Wolfsburg]

{{VfL Wolfsburg}}
{{Bundesliga venues}}
{{2011 FIFA Women's World Cup stadiums}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Wolfsburg]]
[[Category:Football venues in Germany]]
[[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Germany]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Lower Saxony]]
[[Category:VfL Wolfsburg]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2002]]