Nuremberg sports offers much to do and see for the action enthusiast. From the wildly popular football or soccer team, the FC Nürnberg and the successful hockey team the Ice Tigers, professional sports are well-represented.
There are also opportunities to watch cycling races or participate in a cycling tour yourself.
Football / Soccer
The Nuremberg sports team representing the city in football / soccer is the FC Nürnberg. They are affectionately called Der Club in Nuremberg.
The team was founded at the turn of the century in the year 1900 when eighteen local youths got together at a pub and decided to play soccer rather than the usual rugby. By 1909, the team was already winning titles. This historic team has recently returned to the first-rank Bundesliga in 2009.
You can catch one of their games at the easyCredit-Stadion (Max-Morlock-Platz), with a capacity of about 47,000. The most popular games of the year are against Nuremberg’s Bavarian rivals FC Bayern München.
Hockey
The local ice hockey team is called the Ice Tigers, founded in 1994. This Nuremberg sports team plays their chilly games in the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung (Spiesstraße 14) which can hold about 8,000 screaming fans. The highlights of the Ice Tigers’ career has been second-place finishes against the Mannheim Eagles in 1999 and 2007.
The team recently lost one of their star players, Canadian Martin Jiranek, who was the best scorer in the Ice Tigers’ history after playing nine seasons with them.
Cycling
Cycling is a popular Nuremberg sport as well, like in most of Germany. Each year the city hosts an international biking race in the Old Town. Professional teams come from around the world to compete. The most famous team, the Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung practice for the World Cup in Nuremberg.
There are also opportunities for amateur cyclists. Although the city received a rating of “average” for cycling possibilities, the Old Town is a particularly lovely spot for biking while sightseeing!
