HDI Arena Sports Fan Tips
HDI Arena is a venue in Hannover
Things to check out around HDI Arena?
Hannover 96 offer stadium tours of the HDI Arena at the really good price of just €7.00 for adults and €4.00 for children. The tour is led by a knowledgeable guide and can take around 90 minutes. You will get to see the VIP areas and the press room as well as the more exiting areas such as the changing rooms and the pitchside dugout!Otherwise you should connect with nature and take a walk and a picnic in the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen – it really is a sight worth seeing.
Best restaurants near HDI Arena?
I don't know about you but I think Germany specialises in meat really really well – so I might be a bit bias when I recommend Block House Am Kropcke. But sometimes a steak with all the fixings is just what the doctor ordered. They have a great range here and cook them really well!For some food that is low on price but high on spice and flavour, you have two great choices. If you want some fantastically fresh food – go to Vietnamese restaurant Street Kitchen. And if you are feeling some Indian – who isn't – head to Koh-I-Noor. You won't regret it.
What to expect from the HDI Arena crowd?
As with most German stadiums, the atmosphere inside the HDI Arena is fantastic on matchdays. It doesn't matter that the team are playing in the second league of German football at the moment – the fans still turn up every week and will their team on. flags, banners and signs are a very common sight at Hannover games – and when the South Stand all hold up their scarfs in unison, it's a great sight.
Best Insider tip at HDI Arena?
Payment for food and drinks at the stadium is by a cashless smartcard. You can get these on the day from around the ground and at the clubs shop. You have to put a minimum of €20 onto the card that includes a €3 deposit. Don't worry though, the €3 and any remaining credit can be refunded from any sales point after the match.
How do I get to HDI Arena?
Hannovers 'green theme' continues even in their location. Found 2.5km outside of the city centre, the stadium is in a nice sports park complex.If you arrive at the main train station in town you can jump on the tram! Lines 3 and 7 run to Stadionbrücke Station which is just a short walk to the stadium. However, you might want to get off 2 stops beforehand at Waterloo with its beer garden just a couple of minutes walk from the station.There is of course parking at the station if you're driving yourself and car spots shouldn't cost more than €5.
HDI Arena seating?
The HDI Arena was effectively rebuilt before the 2006 World Cup and now regularly shows concerts as well as hosting Hannover 96. As a result, the seating is really quite comfortable, and all of the stands are self-supporting which means there are no obstructed views.As you can imagine, the main action areas are behind the goals, with the area behind the South Goal being the heart of where the fervent Hannover 96 fans sit. Tickets here will cost you €14 for a standing spot or €24 for a seat behind the goal. The more expensive tickets are in the stands that run along the pitch and cost up to €45 for seats near the half way line.
Best Food and Drink at HDI Arena?
Since the rebuild for the 2006 World Cup, it's fair to say that the food and drink facilities are fairly decent. The food and drink for sale is rather good quality despite being the rather basic stuff that you will find in grounds all over the world with Bratwurst and fries taking centre stage, all being washed down with some good German Beer. You will have to go through the effort of having to buy a cashless card and top it up to buy your half time refreshments though.
Best Bars around HDI Arena?
There is a really nice pub to have a few beers near the clubs old stadium. 96 Gäststätte doesn't hide its allegiance to the club, with the bar and the terrace being decked out in Hannover colors, scarfs and pictures from famous nights long gone by.If you get off the metro at Waterloo you should make a stop in the Waterloo Biergarten – it's not hard to find with enormous TV screen and the smell of freshly cooked kebabs and Bavarian sausages filling the air! Elite 96 is a traditional terrace clubhouse that is also really popular with Hannover fans – located by a football pitch, it really is a footballer's pub! by a training pitchNordkurve is slightly nearer the stadium than the other bars and is rammed full on a game day. A classic fans' pub, it has a delightful beer terrace as well with a huge screen set up, building up the atmosphere.