Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, Berlin
Monday, April 27, 2015
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The Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark in Berlin will stage the 2015 UEFA Women's Champions League final at 18.00CET on Thursday 14 May.
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UEFA capacity: 19,708
Tenants: BFC Dynamo (starting 2014/15), Berlin Adler (American football), SV Empor Berlin, FC Bundestag (German parliamentary team)
Opened: 1 October 1952
• Situated in north east Berlin, it is the third-biggest stadium in the city, after the Olympiastadion and the Stadion an der Alten Försterei, where second-tier FC Union Berlin play. The arena was used for foot drills in the 19th century, before becoming a sports facility in 1913, although it was also Hertha BSC Berlin's first ground until 1904.
• In 1951, construction of the current stadium was started to host the World Festival of Youth and Students in what was then East Germany's capital. With a capacity of roughly 30,000, it was suitable for football as well as athletics. In 1952, it was renamed Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, to honour the centenary of the birth of the German 'father of gymnastics' – the legacy of 'Turnvater Jahn' is still strong in modern-day Germany.
• The stadium underwent several renovations up until 1988, when its capacity was set at today's figure.
• Before reunification, Vorwärts Berlin and East German record champions BFC Dynamo played their East German first division and UEFA club competition games here. It hosted ten GDR internationals and three East German Cup finals.
• The stadium has become an alternative venue for Hertha, who on occasion have played UEFA fixtures there. Union Berlin, having qualified for the 2001/02 UEFA Cup, played both their home matches in the Sportpark.
• The stadium used to be home for the former NFL Europe side Berlin Thunder and now the German Football League team Berlin Adler. In 2012, the 34th German Bowl was hosted in the Jahn-Sportpark.
• No less than 18 athletics world records have been broken there, with Uwe Hohn becoming the first javelin thrower to throw over 100m in 1984.