Football stadium (FC Energie Cottbus)

Come and support FC Energie Cottbus, the local football club that play in the 3. Liga in Germany at Stadion der Freundschaft. Opened in early 1930, it was initially called Städtische Stadion, and received its present name in 1950. The stadium is nestled inside Eliaspark near the river Spree to the south east of Cottbus.

Renovated stadium

The stadium became the new home of Energie Cottbus in the late 1970s. At that time, it was oval-shaped, had one covered main stand, and open terraces on all other sides. It could hold about 15,000 spectators. In 1983, several renovations were performed on the terraces, and five years later a new main stand opened. In 2004, a new East Stand was built, which was followed in 2007 and 2008 by two new stands at both ends. In 2011, the stadium became the property of Energie Cottbus, who bought the stadium from the city for a sum of almost €2 million. The Stadion der Freundschaft ("Stadium of Friendship") today offers room for 22,528 spectators, with 10,949 covered seats. "Friendship" was once the greeting of the Free German Youth - and so the name survives as a relic from the days of the GDR. Of the 11,425 standing terraces, 7,795 spaces are covered, leaving the remainder uncovered. If you get a seat in this section, it would be wise to bring an umbrella.

Proud history

Energie Cottbus can trace its roots back to a club founded by coal miners in 1919, in what was then called the town of Marga. FV Grube Marga, as it was called, was active until 1924 when the miners left to form a new team called SV Sturm Grube Marga which was banned by the Nazi Party in 1933. The club began as SC Cottbus in 1963 and its current name is FC Energie Cottbus and has been since the summer of 1990, the time of German reunification. Die Lausitzer have previously played in the Bundlesliga and the Bundesliga 2 but are currently in a regional division. Energie are nevertheless one of the most prosperous and successful football teams in East Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is an honorary member of the club.

Easily accessible from Cottbus

Getting to the Stadion der Freundschaft is easy due to its close proximity to Cottbus. It's located close to Cottbus' city centre and just east, an approximately 15-minute walk downhill, of the main rail station. There are frequent direct trains from Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof to Cottbus. The journey takes under 90 minutes. If arriving by car from the A15 motorway, take exit 4 Cottbus-West, follow the B169 toward the city, and then continue on the B168 toward Guben. Signs will guide you to the stadium from there. A day out at Stadion der Freundschaft in Cottbus is a must for football fans staying in the region.