Stadion An der Alten Försterei Stadium

The Stadion An der Alten Försterei (the Stadium near the old Forester's house) is a football (soccer) stadium and home to Berlin’s FC Union Berlin. The stadium is located in the eastern Berlin district of Köpenick.

First opened in 1920, the stadium has since been through major renovations. In 2008, the stadium was threatened with closure due to a lack of funds and a crumbling infrastructure. In a moving example of the dedication of FC Union’s fans, donations flooded in, and over 2,000 volunteers arrived to rebuild the stadium themselves.

While capacity at Stadion An der Alten Försterei is upwards of 19,000, only around 4,000 of that is seating, while the rest is standing room only on concrete terracing under metal roofing. This element gives the stadium its old-timey football ambiance.

Other than playing home field to Berlin’s FC Union, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei also hosts other sporting events, such as bike shows and track and field events, and is a venue for concerts.