Business units of theOlympiastadion Berlin

History

The Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH is the operating company of the Olympiastadion Berlin. Since 2006 the state of Berlin is the sole stockholder of the operating company.

The property ownership of the former Reichssportfeld and current Olympiastadion was transferred to the Federal Republic of Germany after 1945. When Berlin applied to host the 2000 Olympic Games and the allied troops left Germany in the early 1990s, several feasibility studies were developed to determine the future of the ailing and no longer contemporary stadium.

In December of 1998, the Berlin Senate voted-after consulting the owner of the property at that time (the Federal Republic of Germany)- to renovate and modernise the Olympiastadion in accordance to the guidelines of monument conservation. In late 1998, the planning group gmp’p, consisting of the architectural firm of von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (from Hamburg) and several consultants won the ideas competition for the renovation and modernisation process. The investor competition held in 1999 was won by the Walter Bau AG from Augsburg.

In the meantime, the Federal Republic of Germany has transferred sole ownership of the entire area, considered the Olympic grounds, to the State of Berlin. The State of Berlin signed a concessional contract for the Olympiastadion with the Walter Bau-AG in June of 2000, in which it was determined that the stadium should be renovated and modernised. Once completed, control of the stadium should be handed over to a private sector enterprise instead of the state of Berlin.

The starting signal for the renovation and modernisation process was given in August of 2000 by the Walter Bau AG’s CEO Prof. Dr. Walter, together with then-chancellor Gerhard Schröder, then-mayor of Berlin, Eberhard Diepgen and then-Senator for City Development Peter Strieder. The costs for renovation and modernisation totalled about 240 Million € and were mostly paid for by the Federal Republic of Germany.

Major Events Business & Private Events Tourism Film Location

Major Events

The football highlight in recent history was the FIFA World Cup 2006 with Italy being crowned as World Champions on July 9, 2006 at the Olympiastadion Berlin. In addition to football, the Olympiastadion Berlin is also a Mecca for Track and Field. The 2009 IAAF World Championships in Athletics will be remembered in large part due to the World Records by Usain Bolt in the 100m and 200m that are still standing to this day. The yearly Athletics event ISTAF is also very popular.

Concerts are another highlight at the Olympiastadion Berlin. Since its reopening in 2004, international stars such as U2 (who have played here twice since), Madonna, Depeche Mode, Genesis, Robbie Williams, AC/DC, the Rolling Stones and German top stars such as Herbert Grönemeyer, Helene Fischer and Udo Lindenberg have played in front of capacity crowds. Comedian Mario Barth even set Guinness World Records with the largest comedy show on July 7 and 8, 2014.

On June 26, 2011, the FIFA Women’s World Cup opening match was held at the Olympiastadion Berlin in front of a European record crowd. On September 22, 2011 Pope Benedict XIV celebrated a mass at the Olympiastadion Berlin. On June 6, 2015 the UEFA Champions League Final pitted Juventus Turin and FC Barcelona against one another at the Olympiastadion Berlin.

Business & Private Events

Outside of the big events, the Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH also rents individual rooms or even the entire stadium to companies or individuals who wish to host an event.

Behind the scenes of the historic Olympiastadion Berlin, a plethora of rooms is available – each with their individual flair and charm. The unique four-story atrium builds the centerpiece of the VIP areas and just as the inside warm-up hall or the Hall of Honor, each room offers room for individual arrangements and ideas.

Whether it is a summer fest, a birthday party, a conference, a car presentation, a Christmas party or a dinner on the sacred pitch – (almost) anything is possible!

Tourism

Since its reopening in 2004, the Olympiastadion Berlin is open to visits from tourists from all across the globe.

On August 1, 2011, the visitor center at the Osttor main entrance was reopened after a four-month long renovation period. With the reopening of the visitor center, a new visitor program was introduced, opening the entire Olympic Park Berlin to visitors. The Olympiastadion Berlin and the Olympic Park Berlin can be visited individually or as part of a guided tour that also takes visitors behind the scenes and to areas otherwise not open to the public.

One of the highlights is the Hertha BSC tour. The tour starts with a view behind the scenes: the VIP areas and the Hertha BSC dressing rooms are part of the stadium tour. Leaving the stadium, the tour takes visitors to club grounds, viewing the second team stadium as well as the training areas. The Hertha BSC tour ends at Hanns-Braun-Straße.

Usually, the first team practice can be seen and attended here on Thursdays at approximately 3 p.m. If the training session is open to the public, you can stay and watch right after the tour ends.

Film Location

Not only visitors to events have discovered the beauty and photogenic aura of the Olympiastadion Berlin. Countless stairwells, a two-story parking garage, state-of-the-art prison cells, endless hallways, exclusive and luxurious VIP areas – The Olympiastadion Berlin has lots to offer. It is no surprise that film and photo crews from across the globe (including Hollywood filmmakers) frequent the Olympiastadion on a regular basis. Many advertising spots, movies and photoshoots for worldwide marketing campaigns have been shot here. Many interior shots were taken as backdrops for Bollywood-star Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster `Don 2`.