Mannheim is an active sports town. You can head to one of the main stadiums and check out the fierce competition in soccer, ice hockey or handball. No matter when you visit, you’ll find a way to appreciate the athletic culture of this German city.
Football / Soccer
The local soccer club is the SV Waldhof Mannheim. This Mannheim sports team was founded over a century ago in 1907. The team has had its ups and downs through the years.
In its early days in the 1920s, they won several titles, but by 1970, SV Waldhof had been relegated to the Amateursliga. Today they play in the Regionalliga IV.
SV Waldhof calls the Carl-Benz Stadium (Alsenweg) its home. This stadium opened in 1994 and can hold up to 27,000 screaming soccer fans.
Ice Hockey
While football or soccer is indisputably the country’s most popular sport, the local ice hockey team, Adler Mannheim (Mannheim Eagles), enjoy considerable support as well.
While this Mannheim sports team’s roots only go back to 1938, they have won their share of championships in their seven-decade-long history. They enjoyed a particularly good run in the late nineties, when they won the championship in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001.
You can catch the Eagles in action at their stadium, the top modern SAP Arena (Xaver-Fuhr-Straße 150), which has a capacity for about 14,000 fans.
Handball
The Rhein-Neckar Löwen is Mannheim’s handball team. They came together in 2002 as two previous handball teams, TSG Kronau and TSG Baden Östringen, united.
With a string of accomplishments under their belt, the Rhein-Neckar Löwen have attracted a loyal fan base. Come cheer them on at the SAP Arena during your stay here.
Swimming
This Mannheim sport is ever-popular. With four outdoor pools and five indoor, swimming is never out of season here. And many pools include added amenities like swimming lessons, water aerobics and steam room and sauna facilities.
Hiking
The region of the Rhine-Neckar Triangle includes the Rhine River and Neckar River Valleys as well as the Palatinate Forest. Take a hike along these pretty trails through the vineyards and orchards of this picturesque area.
