Eintracht Frankfurt are planning to build a new stadium. CEO Axel Hellmann presented the plan for an arena with up to 80,000 seats at the club's members' meeting on Monday evening in Frankfurt's Jahrhunderthalle.

Hellmann stressed the urgency of long-term planning. If they do not start presenting plans now, they will not have a new stadium in ten years, he said. The lifecycle of the current venue ends in 2035. Stadiums have a lifecycle of three decades. The current stadium opened in 2005. That is why its expiry date is 2035. A new build should be ready by 2038.

More standing room and multifunctionality

The new arena is set to offer significantly more standing areas than the current capacity of 60,100. It is conceived as a modern multifunctional venue for concerts and major events. Eintracht Frankfurt is currently among the eight most successful stadium operators in the world for events and total attendance. With over 150,000 members, the club has the potential to fill a much larger stadium, Hellmann stated. Financing for the project will be strictly separated from spending on the squad.

Decision in 2027, eye on World Cup 2042

A final decision on whether to add a third tier or rebuild completely will be made in early 2027 following a feasibility study. Traffic concepts and building permits remain unclear. In the long term, the arena could also host matches for the 2042 FIFA World Cup in Germany. For Hellmann, the new build is more than a symbol. It is essential for the club's sporting performance and overall well-being.

The announcement comes as the team under coach Dino Toppmöller is battling inconsistent results in the Bundesliga. Following the recent 1-0 home win against 1. FC Köln, Eintracht Frankfurt sit 11th in the table with 8 points from 6 matches. Their record of two wins, two draws and two defeats illustrates the inconsistency so far, with ten goals scored and sixteen conceded. Their recent form over the last five games shows three wins, one draw and one defeat. This sequence includes the 4-0 victory over Eintracht Braunschweig, the 2-2 draw with SC Freiburg, and the 3-1 away win at FSV Mainz 05, but also the heavy 6-0 defeat at RB Leipzig. The next tough test awaits on Saturday 24 October away to second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Top scorer Younes Ebnoutalib, who netted the winner against Köln, has already scored five goals this season. In the standings, the gap to the league leaders is currently six points.

This story first appeared at Bild Sport