Alfred-Kunze Stadion - BSG Chemie Leipzig
- Chris Tuck
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Alfred-Kunze-Sportpark
Am Sportpark 2
04179 Leipzig, Germany
Year Opened: 1920 Capacity: 4,999
Tough, Edgy East Germany Football
Choosing a stadium journey to the Alfred-Kunze Stadion to watch BSG Chemie Leipzig brings to mind CS Lewis’s description of Aslan, in the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. “Safe? Course he isn’t safe. But he is good!”
Football in East Germany retains the tough, edgy and (occasionally) violent culture that will never leave visitors feeling fully safe. However, if you keep your phone in your pocket, restrict tourist instincts, and respect the ultras and their space, it’s really good!
Men, women and children smiling and socialising, drinking beer (and cola) give this club a safe and inclusive vibe, something BSG Chemie Leipzig are known for.
Food & Beverage 3
Beer is €4.50 with a €2 deposit for your branded Cup. Coffee is €3. Cola €3.50
Food stalls, on your left-hand side as you enter, will serve you the mandatory Bratwurst for €3.50.
Atmosphere 5
Built in 1920 for a reported 512,545.83 marks, this antique and addictive stadium is still going strong 105 years later. FC Victoria 06 Leutzsch were the first tenants. Club mergers, bankruptcy, and political preferences take you on a winding historical sporting journey from Victoria to the modern-day BSG Chemie Leipzig.
Away fans are seated in the south stand (GasteBlock). To the right, the whitewashed and distinctive administrative ‘house’ sits confidently alongside the VIP and family area. The Norddamm is a classic two-tiered crumbling terrace with a scoreboard at the very back. On match days, the terrace becomes a living organism; home of ‘Die Diablos’ ultra group. Pyrotechnics, tifo, and 90 minutes of chanting, led by the capo, provide a spectacular backdrop to the evening.
Finally the Dammsitz Tribune is the home of the old wooden stand with a length of terrace and seats closer to the action. The wooden grandstand is a historical item of beauty; it came from the regatta track at the Elsterflutbett and was moved to Leutzsch in 1948.
Neighborhood 3
Leutzsch is an Alt-West locality of Leipzig. Aside from the football, it’s the forest that attracts hikers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Part of the city since 1922, Leutzsch has an industrial past; now the factories are derelict or home to galleries. There are the necessities you need, but it’s strongly recommended you stay in Leipzig, just 3.5 miles east; it's a vibrant and attractive city steeped in history.
Fans 5
The stadium capacity is currently capped at 4,999 for safety reasons. In the last ten years, attendances have grown. An average of around 1,200 in 2015 increasing to regular 5k sell-outs in 2025. The record attendance was 32,000 back in 1950.
The name BSG comes from Betriebssportgemeinschaft, the sports club movement in the old DDR. Each club was also linked to an industry, in BSG’s case the chemical sector.
Fans are known for their social conscience, anti-discrimination ethos and a dislike of the commercialism that blights parts of Western European football. Their rivals are Lokomotive Leipzig.
Access 3
To find The Alfred’ from Leipzig Hauptbahnhof jump on an S-Bahn (S1) to Leipzig Leutzsch. Disembark and follow the green and white procession towards the ground. Carrying (and drinking) a bottle of beer on your journey is a must.
The main route into Germany will be via Berlin. (Leipzig-Halle Flughafen has limited destinations). From the capital, it’s a direct train south-west to Leipzig on the ICE train (75 minutes).
Arriving this way ensures you see Leipzig Hauptbahnhof, the largest train station (by square foot) in Europe!
Return on Investment 4
Match tickets cost around €20 and can be purchased online (with meaningful reductions for the unemployed, students and certain disabilities). The ticket is easily uploaded onto your phone wallet upon online purchase (helpful, but RIP printed tickets).
S-Bahnhof travel is inexpensive. A standard single ticket is about €3.50, or cheaper via the LeipzigMOVE app (worth signing up for if you are staying a few days)
Add in the cheap beer and bratwurst and this level of football (Regionalliga Nordost - tier 4) is tremendous value. It’s not plush seats with prawn sandwiches; it’s participative, social and an assault on the senses. For BSG fans, it’s a way of life.
Extras 4
The family area next to the VIP section is an excellent provision. Sand pits and toys in a fenced off area allowing you to enjoy the football whilst your little ones play safely.
A printed programme is available. Long live the printed programme!
The stadium was renamed in the 1990s after legendary champion coach Alfred Kunze.
The Alfred was the first ground in Germany to introduce a ‘man high’ mesh fence between the playing surface and the fans!
Final Thoughts
The chemical ingredients of this trip included pyrotechnics, wurstfüllung, cement, water, hops, malt, and wheat. Stadium Journey prescribes this trip to you; it won’t make you safe, but it makes you feel good.
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