VfB Stuttgart Matchday Guide

Deep regional pride and a proper cauldron. The Cannstatter Kurve is the home end and the heart of it all — its lower tier a standing terrace of over 8,000, where ultra groups lead the flags, tifos and chants, the signature “Nur der VfB” (“Only VfB”) ringing around the bowl. The support blends city dwellers with fans from across the Swabian countryside, and the recent resurgence has the whole region energised again. The ground itself is a genuine piece of football history, having hosted World Cups, European Championships and European Cup finals across the decades. Expect a passionate, big-stadium matchday with a distinctly Swabian flavour — understated off the pitch, intense on it.

The MHPArena is in Bad Cannstatt, around 5km north-east of the centre, and public transport is the way in — your VfB match ticket doubles as a free travel pass across the matchday network. The simplest route is the Stadtbahn line U11, a special matchday service running direct from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to NeckarPark (Stadion) every 7–8 minutes, taking about 20 minutes. Alternatively, the S-Bahn to Bad Cannstatt station leaves a pleasant walk to the ground — note the NeckarPark S-Bahn stop itself is often closed on matchdays, so Bad Cannstatt is the reliable choice. There’s also a large bike garage for cyclists. Our getting around Stuttgart guide has the tram and S-Bahn details.

Bad Cannstatt is the matchday district, and it’s an atmospheric one. The fan bars cluster around Wilhelmsplatz and along the approach roads to the ground, an easy walk or short ride from the S-Bahn. The dedicated VfB fan bar on Daimlerstraße — its ceiling covered in Cannstatter Kurve scarves and its benches in club red — is the essential pre-match stop for home fans, filling up fast before big games. There’s a neat quirk of geography too: the Cannstatter Wasen, home to one of Germany’s largest beer festivals, sits just a couple of hundred metres from the stadium. Our Stuttgart sports bars guide points you to the best spots in Bad Cannstatt.

Payment is cashless, and beer is sold inside as at any Bundesliga ground. The MHPArena was substantially rebuilt between 2021 and 2024, with a striking new main stand completed for Euro 2024, so the facilities are thoroughly modern despite the stadium’s 1930s origins. The graceful cable-supported fabric roof is an engineering statement in its own right — fitting, in this car-making city. The Cannstatter Kurve holds the loudest home support; away fans go in the Untertürkheimer Kurve at the opposite corner. For atmosphere, aim for the Cannstatter end; for the view, the new main stand. A stadium tour (around €11, roughly 90 minutes) runs on non-matchdays.

VfB’s resurgence has driven demand sharply upward, and tickets can be hard to get without club membership, so plan ahead. They’re sold through the official club website; the visits of Bayern and Dortmund, the regional derbies, and any European nights are the toughest fixtures to secure. Prices are reasonable for a big club, and the standing terrace offers the cheapest, most atmospheric option if you can get in. Entry is by digital ticket. Our VfB Stuttgart tickets guide walks through the official sale and membership routes.

The matchday U11 tram and the S-Bahn from Bad Cannstatt clear the crowd efficiently, dropping you back in the city centre within about 20 minutes. Stuttgart then offers a rewarding evening: the city is compact and walkable, ringed by vineyards you can ride up to by funicular, with a lively centre for food and drink. Car enthusiasts should build in time for the Mercedes-Benz or Porsche museums, both close to the ground. If you’re staying over, a central base gives the best access to the restaurants and sights, a short S-Bahn from the stadium; our Stuttgart hotels guide covers the best-placed options.

Take the U11 tram — the direct matchday service from Hauptbahnhof to NeckarPark is the easiest route, free with your ticket.

Use Bad Cannstatt station — if taking the S-Bahn, the NeckarPark stop is often closed on matchdays, so head there instead.

Start around Wilhelmsplatz — Bad Cannstatt’s fan bars are the heart of the pre-match.

Aim for the Cannstatter Kurve — the standing home end is the cheapest and most atmospheric spot.

Visit the car museums — the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums are right by the ground.

Join for the big games — membership helps hugely for the derbies and marquee fixtures.

Facts verified July 2026. Capacities and ticketing can change between seasons — confirm the latest details on the official VfB Stuttgart website before you travel.