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The citizens of Stuttgart have been treated to sporting, cultural and even historic scenes aplenty at their Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion. Germany met Switzerland here in 1950 in the first international on German soil following the end of the Second World War. Forty years later, on 19 December 1990, the stadium hosted the first international since reunification, another match-up between the Germans and the Swiss. The ground has been the venue for the European Champions Cup Final, a concert by the Rolling Stones, FIFA World Cup and European championship matches, and the athletics World Championships. Current Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann made his final appearance as a player here on 24 May 1999.

The third phase of the 2006 FIFA World Cup modernisation programme began in January 2004 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2005. A new seating tier will be created opposite the main stand, electronic access controls installed and two new video screens mounted, at 115 square metres viewable area and 11 tonnes apiece, the biggest of their kind in Europe.

The original Neckar-Stadion was built in 1933 to a design by architect Paul Bonatz. From 1949-51, a new open stand was built opposite the main stand and between 1955-56, the Cannstatter and Untertürkheimer ends were extended. Further extensions followed in 1971-73 and 1974 (main stand), and the pitch was modernised in 1990. The Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion was improved to FIFA World Cup standard as early as 1999-2001, with an investment of around DM 107m on the main stand. The focal point was the new Business Centre with 44 executive boxes, 1,500 business seats, a multi-storey car park with direct access, and facilities for visitors, athletes and the media.

The stadium is home to renowned Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart. A highlight of the new ground is the textile roof covering, with a supporting structure following the principle of a horizontal hub and spoke system, its fine and intricate lattice somehow reminiscent of the nearby acres of vines. The roof is created from PVC coated polyester fibre and covers the stands with some 34,000 square metres of material at heights varying between 18 and 35 metres.

Financing:
The state of Baden-Württemberg will contribute one third of the financing, to a maximum of €15.3m. The remaining costs are to be met by the city. VfB Stuttgart will cover part of the costs for the second tier on the opposite stand.