Third division Arminia Bielefeld is only a win from the Europa League – so that the club can also play the possible international games in its stadium, some prerequisites must be met. A cup victory and participation in the Europa League would bring high income.
If Arminia Bielefeld won the DFB Cup final against VfB Stuttgart on May 24, 2025, the third division club would have a starting right in the league of the UEFA Europa League. The possible opponents are well known. Clubs such as Manchester City, Aston Villa, Juventus Turin or Betis Sevilla are currently in the Europa League places or in their close close in the big leagues.
But the requirements of the UEFA to the stadiums are sometimes strict. The question of whether it would be possible to play the home games on the Alm depends on details.
Capacity is not a problem, but UEFA still leaves a standstill question open
For all games of the Europa League, the UEFA demands a stadium in category 4 from the group phase, which is the highest classification. The alpine pasture loose the most important hurdle: 8,000 places are the minimum required capacity, 27,332 the stadium in Bielefeld. Of these are 7,940 standing room and 19,392 seats.
Standing rooms are generally prohibited in the European Cup. Since 2022, the UEFA has been able to test standing room in selected countries, including Germany. A departure from this appears unlikely, but this test has not yet been officially extended for the 2025/26 season. According to information from the sports show, a decision by the UEFA Executive Committee should be made in Bilbao at a meeting on May 21 – here Bielefeld would have clarity before a possible cup victory.
Arminia Bielefeld’s stadium from the air
Very specific requirements for players, fans and media
In other places, UEFA becomes very concrete what the stadium must have to offer for fans, players and media. Some examples that could hardly cause problems in Bielefeld or who could only require minor renovations:
- The playing field must have the dimensions of 105 MX 68 m.
- The replacement benches must have at least 20 places.
- There must be five places for UEFA flags.
- The teams’ cabins must have six showers, three toilets, a television, a refrigerator and thong.
- At least 0.1 percent of the capacity must be available in a wheelchair, around 27 places. At least twelve places of them should get guest fans.
- 100 VIP places with catering must be present.
- 50 people have to find space at the press conference.
In principle, the stadium has largely grown. In the 2021/22 season, Arminia was part of the Bundesliga and, after a double relegation, is currently playing in the 3rd league for the return to the 2nd Bundesliga.
Cup victory, Europa League and ascent? Income would increase further
The Arminia is secure at least 9.3 million euros with the final in the final by payments of the DFB. In a win against Stuttgart in Berlin, it could be more than 10.8 million euros. In the Europa League, the UEFA would add 4.31 million euros in entry fee as well as 450,000 euros for each point earned and a participation in the marketing income of the UEFA.
“We had a decent minus before the season and are glad that we were able to push these liabilities aside. That’s why all of the money doesn’t get stuck”,, Managing Director Michael Mutzel said on Deutschlandfunk. “We feel much better because we can plan the new season without worry. No matter what league in. But it is not that we swim in the money.” The income could also increase by promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga, which promises significantly more money than the 3rd league.
Arminia Bielefeld’s managing director Michael Mutzel
In any case, the inferior finalist in the DFB Cup goes away empty-handed when it comes to the European Cup. This applies since the beginning of the 2015/16 season. The last German club to date, which made it into European competition as a final loser, was the current final opponent of Arminia – VfB Stuttgart in 2013.
The ALM – expansion ensured a fast bank, 2010 setting of a World Cup in 2010
With its own stadium, in which large clubs could soon play from Europe, the club had once difficulty. The expansion of the counter grandstands in the east of the stadium between 2006 and 2008 was much more expensive than expected and brought the Arminia to the brink of financial collapse.
The east stand during the renovation 2007
International games are not completely alien to the stadium – in 2010 Germany won the women’s final of the women with players such as Almuth Schult, Kim Kulig or Dzsenifer Marozsán.
Germany’s U20 before the World Cup final in Bielefeld