Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld - FC Carl Zeiss Jena Frauen
- Chris Tuck
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld Roland-Ducke-Weg 1
07745 Jena, Germany
Year Opened: 1924/2024 Capacity: ~15,000
Carl Zeiss Jena
Few names evoke DDR football ostalgie more than Carl Zeiss Jena. When spoken aloud, “Carl Zeiss Jena” carries a mellifluence that belies its industrial origins. The iconic club badge, in use since 1976, with its vivid blue, yellow, and white colours, is recognisable to football fans across Europe.
The city of Jena is located in Thuringia, in central Germany. It was part of the old DDR until reunification in 1990. This growing city, famous for its optical industries, sits in a valley through which the River Saale flows, overlooked by rugged, rocky mountains.
The original Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld opened in 1924, complete with a running track. In 2020, the rebuild began, and the striking new stadium was officially opened in July 2024. Mercifully, the famous old Jena stadium clock tower was saved, an iconic reminder of footballing times past.
The new Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld (aka, Ad Hoc Arena) was recently voted the best stadium in the world in a poll by Stadium DB, ahead of Real Madrid’s Bernabèu Stadium.
The Jena men’s team currently plays in the 4th tier of German football (Nordost). They were DDR-Oberliga champions, three-time cup winners, and in 1981, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup finalists, narrowly losing to Dinamo Tbilisi. As for many former East German giants, those halcyon days are now a distant memory.
Their Frauen side competes in the Women’s Bundesliga. Stadium Journey’s visit coincided with a match against Union Berlin Frauen in front of 1384 spectators.
Food & Beverage 3
The city centre has a variety of food outlets to use before or after your stadium journey. The L’Osteria sits under the Jena Tower on Johannisstraße, and although not a ‘local’ option, the spaghetti bolognese offers an alternative to ‘another’ bratwurst.
Inside the stadium, water is €3.50, cola is €4, and Köstritzer Pils 0.5L costs €5. Nachos and a dip €5. Bratwurst €4 oder Rostbrötchen €5. All available from various kiosks on the outer concourses of the stadium.
Atmosphere 3
The highest attendance was reported to be around 27,000 for a Champions League match v Atletico Madrid. Another claim to fame is the world javelin record fell at the old ground by Czech athlete, Jan Železný.
The new stadium, designed by Lau Dirsat Architekten, was built at a cost of around €60 million and has a capacity of just over 15,000.
Three stands are completely new, and one was incorporated from the previous iteration. Home ultra fans are at the North end of the stadium, which is standing only.
Neighborhood 3
As the club and stadium names demonstrate, the optical industries are intrinsically linked with the city of Jena.
Carl Zeiss (1816–1888) was a German industrialist and scientific instrument maker. The founder of ZEISS was in 1846. Ernst Karl Abbe (1840-1905 was a social reformer and optical engineer who was co-owner at Carl Zeiss AG. Their statues can be found in the city, and cultural references are everywhere.
For €6, take a lift to the 29th floor of the Jena Tower for spectacular views, including Zeiss' current HQ and the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld.
There aren’t too many must-see tourist destinations in the city. You could probably find enough to do in Jena for a day, although longer if you’d enjoy hiking in the surrounding forests.
Fans 4
“We are Jena, we are Jena…” to the tune ‘we are sailing’ is sung loudly and gets in your head for days to come!
Home fans have a bitter rivalry with Erfurt, a city around thirty miles west of Jena.
Union fans brought the noise for this fixture; nearly half the crowd had travelled south from Berlin.
German international Bernd Schneider is one of many famous footballers to have played for Jena.
Two new scoreboards are visible to fans from all parts of the stadium. At the old version of the ground, in 1978, Jena had the first ever electronic scoreboard in the GDR!
Access 5
A river walk towards the match always feels very civilised. Fulham has the Thames, Bremen has the Weser. Whilst smaller in scale, the walk or cycle south from the centre of Jena along the River Saale is a charming route to the ground.
The walk, through leafy parkland, takes just 15 minutes. Most fans stop along the way to drink their bottles of beer and discuss the upcoming fixture.
If it’s a rainy day, trams 1,4, or 5 from Paradiesbanhof to Sportforum take just ten minutes.
To get to Jena itself, there are train services and Flix Bus options from Leipzig or Frankfurt.
Access into the stadium is through electronic turnstiles. Once inside, there are steps up into the stands with the usual additional amenities available.
Return on Investment 3
A trip to the fan shop in the centre of town or outside the ground could be an expensive one. Scarves are €19 and home shirts are more than €60. They have a wide range of branded goods available.
Tickets are available in the fan shop/ticket centre at the stadium or the fan store in Jena city centre, as well as online or by telephone hotline. Ticket prices range from €10 to €20.
Extras 3
The club still produces an informative printed programme for all home matches. An excellent way to commemorate your visit.
Club name changes were almost a historical imperative across East German football. SG Stadion Jena, SG Carl Zeiss Jena, BSG Mechanik Jena, BSG Motor Jena, and SC Motor Jena are just a few iterations from days gone by.
As with many modern stadia, the venue seeks to serve the wider community seven days a week. Corporate events, conferences, congresses, sports events, stadium tours, Christmas parties, and catering are all available in three exclusive, individually customisable event areas.
Final Thoughts
The city of Jena is certainly off the beaten track in European ground-hopping terms, which means you need a good reason to visit. This famous old East German football team, soaked in history, and its brand new award-winning stadium will give you all the reasons you need!
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