Rhein-Neckar-Arena Sports Fan Tips
Rhein-Neckar-Arena is a venue in or near Sinsheim that is most often used for Soccer
Best Bars around Rhein-Neckar-Arena?
The area of Sinsheim really isn't the most happening of areas and most fans tend to drink inside the stadium rather than finding a place around town – however there are a couple of options If you are really parched! Zum Elfmeter is a strange little place on the way to the ground – however the fact it sells Pilsner and Hefeweizen beer makes it a popular stop off for fans who have decided to walk.There is Westpoint Lounge Bar as well near the stadium – though it is nothing like the normal pre-match pubs with an almost seedy vibe to it – it does sell beer.
Best Food and Drink at Rhein-Neckar-Arena?
Having been built in 2009, the Rhein-Nechar Arena is one of the newest stadiums in Germany and thus has plenty of kiosks on the concourses for food and drinks so the queues are minimal which is always a big plus! The refreshments on offer are the standard German footballing food with plenty of Fries, Hot Dogs, Pretzels and Burgers. You can wash it down with an nice pint of Bitburger beer that you can bring to your seat and you can buy from the Bitburger Stall in the home end!
Things to check out around Rhein-Neckar-Arena?
There are many talented players that have played for this small club over the years – Roberto Firminho and Demba Ba are just a couple. And the club is offering a chance to go behind the scenes and walk in these two player's footsteps! For just €5 you can go on a stadium tour and visit areas that are normally off limits to the public before walking down the tunnel and getting to pitchside!
Best Insider tip at Rhein-Neckar-Arena?
Hoffenheim are one of the many teams that operate a cashless system inside the stadium. If you want to buy any drinks or refreshments, you will have to obtain a cashless card from the ticket box or stands around the stadium – before topping it up with at least €10. Although this is a pain, it does reduce queues at the kiosks with no one fumbling around with loose change! You can of course refund the money on the card at several machines around the stadium.
How do I get to Rhein-Neckar-Arena?
Despite representing Hoffenheim, the stadium is actually in the small town of Sinsheim. As a result, the public transportation options for coming to the stadium are fairly limited.The main train station has services that come in from both Heidelberg and Hoffenheim, and with it only being a 15 walk from the station to the stadium, many fans stroll along!If you really don't feel like walking though, there are shuttle buses that pick-up fans at the station and run them to the arena – the cost of this is covered in your match ticket!Otherwise if you are driving there is a lot of parking at the ground itself. However, with its location being out of the way, a lot of fans do drive – so make sure to get there early!
What to expect from the Rhein-Neckar-Arena crowd?
Hoffenheim have become a mainstay in the Bundesliga in recent years which is just fantastic to see. This relatively small club have defied the doubters and despite sometimes flirting with relegation they seem to be here to stay. This gradual emergence is in part to the great support the team gets at its home games! There are fervent fans in this part of the world and the do a great job putting on a good atmosphere. The Rammstein Hard Rock songs that ring out just before kick-off certainly add to the occasion!
Rhein-Neckar-Arena seating?
With the stadium being fairly new and costing upwards of €100 million – you'd be right in thinking that the seating arrangements here are top class. There are no supporting beams or pillars in sight, which means all the seats have an excellent view of the pitch. The South Stand is where the most passionate home fans can be found – with the seating surrounding at area of standing room only terraces – that produces most of the nose in the ground! Away fans are seated opposite this end – making for some good banter. Seats here will cost €12.00 for standing room and €20 for a seat.The best stand to sit in might be the East Stand – prices are more expensive here with prices up to €40, however as well as a great view, the seats a more spacious here, giving you a lot more legroom so you can kick back and enjoy the game.
Best restaurants near Rhein-Neckar-Arena?
As with the pubs, there isn't a wealth of dining options in the small town of Sinsheim, although if you can't wait to get back to either Hoffenheim or Heidelberg, there are some places to eat in town!Pizzeria Bella Marmaris is a good Italian restaurants that serves some pretty damn good pizza for really good prices (the advantage of eating in a smaller town) – pair the pizza with some of their local beer and it will go down a treat.Kuferschanke offers something a bit different – although the food served here is some classic German cuisine, the main selling point to the restaurant is the tables themselves! All the tables are set inside some old wine barrels, that makes for an interesting experience!Asia City China Restaurant is a great representative of the time-honoured classic of a Chinese all you can eat buffet. If you've worked up an appetite cheering on the football – this is the place to go.