Stuttgart sports are always fun experiences for locals and travelers alike. It is UNESCO’s choice for a Fair Play trophy. Stuttgart has also been consistently voted as the city with the best spectators.
Football / Soccer
The Reds and the Blues are the premier soccer teams in Stuttgart. The Reds are the super popular VfB Stuttgart. Formed in 1893, this multi-championship-winning team plays in the 55,000-seater Mercedes-Benz Arena (Mercedesstraße 87). The Blues are the Stuttgarter Kickers. You can catch one of their exciting matches at the Gazi Stadium (Guts-Muths-Weg 4), with a capacity of about 11,000 seats.
Stuttgart was one of the chosen German cities to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Hockey
Ice hockey is always popular with German sports fans and Stuttgart is no exception. Here you can check out the Stuttgarter EC at the Waldau Ice Arena (Keßlerweg 8).
Tennis
An important event on the Stuttgart sports calendar is the annual Mercedes Cup tournament. Some of the sport’s biggest names come to the city to battle it out on the court. Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer are some recent champions who have played here.
If you’re not in town for this tournament, maybe you’ll catch the other major one — the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The winners have a choice of a cash prize or this highly desirable German automobile.
Equestrian
The German Masters is another big event in Stuttgart sports. Horseback riding fans will be thrilled at this tournament, which features jumping, dressing and equestrian vaulting performances.
Cycling
The Hofbräu 6-Day Race in January (aka 6-Tage-Rennen) is a must for cycling enthusiasts. This indoor biking event draws thousands of excited well-wishers and spectators every year (except in 2009).
SpOrt Stuttgart
Let’s not forget, the newest addition to the Stuttgart sports scene is this new athletic complex, located at Fritz-Walter-Weg 19. Equipped with a state of the art fitness center and a venue for various sporting events, the SpOrt Stuttgart is a great stop for the athletic tourist.
