Willy-Sachs-Stadion

The stadium, built by German architect Paul Bonatz, was a donation from local industrialist Willy Sachs to the City of Schweinfurt. As the club's patron, Willy Sachs designated a privileged right of use of all facilities for 1. FC Schweinfurt 05.[3] Leading politicians of the Third Reich attended the opening ceremony on 23 July 1936.[2][4][5] Three days later, the new Willy-Sachs-Stadion saw its first game, a 2–2 draw between 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 and 1935 German champion FC Schalke 04.[3]

The stadium has been top-tier venue all the time between 1936 and 1963, and was home stadium to second tier football for many of the following years, most recently during the 2001–02 season. In addition, from 1939 on Schweinfurt 05 played a large number of German Cup matches at the stadium.[6] Attandance record of the stadium was 22,500 at a friendly between Schweinfurt 05 and 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 1954.[7]

Willy-Sachs-Stadion hosted the 2nd Fistball World Championships in 1972 as well as the Fistball European Championships in 2012. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the stadium served as training ground for the Tunisia national football team. In the 2008–09 season, nearby football club TSV Großbardorf had to move to Schweinfurt due to Regionalliga legislations on stadium capacity. The sports complex regularly is venue for athletics competitions and championships on national level. Occasionally, the neighbouring U.S. Army Garrison, located in Schweinfurt until 2014, had used the stadium for military parades.

Willy-Sachs-Stadion today is listed as historic monument and is thus subject to preservation orders.[8][9][10] As part of the Schweinfurt Lest we forget initiative, in 2001 the local press including Süddeutsche Zeitung and author Werner Skrentny initiated a campaign to rename the stadium due to Sachs' Nazi affiliation. The campaign met with low approval among the general public.[11]

Standing rooms with Marathon gate (2017)

View onto court and grandstand (2017)

The stadium complex consists of the main field with a capacity of 15,060 (the actual Willy-Sachs-Stadion) and several additional courts.[12] The main stadium offers a covered grandstand, hosting 860 seats, and standing rooms around the residual circumference, which is planted with two rows of linden trees. The football field is flanked by various track and field facilities and a classical Marathon gate. Premises at the stadium include changing rooms for players, coaches, and referees. Speaker cabins and a press area are available in the grandstand.

To meet 2nd Bundesliga regulations, in 2001 terracing has been renovated, and the stadium was equipped with floodlight masts.[13] In addition, Schweinfurt's large industry contributed an electronic scoreboard. Due to increased security standards, wavebreakers had to be installed on the standing rooms in 2014 to safeguard the full capacity.[14] In 2019, the grandstand was outfitted with new green and white seats that represent the colours of 1. FC Schweinfurt 05.[15]

• Visitor guide with pictures at www.stadionwelt.de