Schüco Arena
Bielefeld, Germany
Home Deluxe Arena
Paderborn Germany
Home Deluxe Arena is a modern football stadium located in Paderborn, Germany, with an official capacity of 15,000 spectators. Serving as the primary home venue for the resident club SC Paderborn 07, this fully enclosed arena is a staple of German professional football, hosting regular matches in the 2. Bundesliga and showcasing an efficient, compact design.
Par SW1907 — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Lien
Capacity
15.000
Stadium History
The venue was conceptualized to replace the outdated Hermann-Löns-Stadion and modernize the infrastructure of SC Paderborn 07. Construction officially began with the groundbreaking ceremony in 2005, following structural planning aimed at meeting modern German Football League standards. The stadium formally opened in July 2008 under its original name, the Paragon Arena. Structurally built as a single-tiered arena, the venue has undergone several commercial naming rights transitions over the years, being known as the Benteler-Arena and the Energieteam Arena before adopting its current corporate identity as the Home Deluxe Arena.
Architecture
The architecture of the stadium is characterized by a distinctive, fully covered single-tier bowl design created by the specialized contracting firm Bremer Bau. Constructed utilizing a functional prefabricated concrete foundation and a lightweight steel frame, the arena is entirely enclosed at the corners to maximize structural efficiency. The low, continuous roof structure covers all spectator areas and acts as an acoustic soundboard. This architectural engineering ensures that the vocal support generated inside the stands is contained and redirected back onto the pitch, creating an intense, compact atmosphere despite the modest capacity of the building.
Club Identity
The official name is derived from a commercial sponsorship agreement with Home Deluxe, a regional online retailer headquartered in the East Westphalia area. Prior corporate namings include the Benteler-Arena, reflecting the city’s prominent industrial ties to the automotive and steel manufacturing sectors. Locally, fans and groundhoppers frequently refer to the venue simply as the Arena or the stadium at the Alme, referencing the Alme river that flows adjacent to the industrial park where the sporting facility was erected, anchoring the modern structure within the local geography of Paderborn.
Major Renovations
The stadium maintains a strict capacity configuration of 15,000 places, which is perfectly split between 6,000 covered seats and 9,000 covered standing spaces. This specific distribution reflects the traditional standing culture of German football leagues. Minor structural modernizations have been carried out since 2008, including upgrades to the floodlight systems to meet high-definition television broadcasting requirements, expansions of the media work areas, and the refinement of the VIP hospitality boxes and corporate business lounges situated in the main western grandstand. Fully compliant accessible seating is positioned with clear, unobstructed views of the playing field.
Iconic matches
The venue entered German football folklore during the historic 2013-2014 season when SC Paderborn 07 secured a miraculous automatic promotion to the Bundesliga, bringing top-tier football to the arena for the first time. Iconic home matches against German giants like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund defined that unforgettable era. The stadium legacy is deeply tied to these high-scoring, competitive fixtures where the club frequently punched above its weight. It has also served as a regular venue for German youth international fixtures and crucial promotion-relegation playoff battles that have shaped the modern history of the resident club.
Location Neighborhood
The stadium is situated in an industrial and commercial zone in the western outskirts of Paderborn, approximately three miles from the historic city center and the main Paderborn Central Railway Station. The immediate surrounding neighborhood consists of large manufacturing warehouses, corporate offices, and expansive parking lots. On match days, the industrial landscape transforms completely as thousands of local fans walk along the dedicated pedestrian paths from nearby transit points. The immediate perimeter outside the gates becomes an active meeting ground filled with mobile food trailers and merchandise trucks.
How to get to Home Deluxe Arena
The stadium is highly accessible via the local public transit network of Paderborn. On match days, special shuttle bus services operate at regular intervals from the central train station directly to the arena grounds. Fans can also utilize standard municipal bus lines that stop at the nearby industrial park stations (all transit routes should be verified before your visit). For those driving, the venue is positioned close to the B1 highway, offering direct connections to the A33 Autobahn. Dedicated parking spaces for coaches, cars, and visitors with limited mobility are situated within short walking distance of the main turnstiles (to be verified before your visit).
Best seats, view and atmosphere
For spectators seeking premium comfort and a complete tactical view of the pitch, the covered seating sections in the East and West stands offer the best vantage points. Neutral groundhoppers looking to experience traditional German football fan culture often opt for the standing sections. The vocal home ultras occupy the South Stand terrace, creating a lively environment throughout the match. Traveling away fans are allocated the entire North Stand, which provides a mix of standing terraces and seating blocks specifically designed to house visiting support safely and efficiently.
Home Deluxe Arena Tour & Behind the Scenes
Guided tours of the arena are organized periodically, offering a comprehensive look into the team dressing rooms, the players’ tunnel, the press conference room, and the executive VIP lounges. These tours must be booked in advance through the official club ticketing office and are subject to availability depending on the active training and match schedules of the professional team (to be verified before your visit). While the venue does not host a large-scale independent museum, historical displays, club trophies, and commemorative photos celebrating the team’s promotions are showcased within the main administrative corridors.
Where to eat and drink near Home Deluxe Arena
Inside the stadium concourses, matchday catering is anchored by traditional German stadium football fare, featuring local Westphalian bratwurst and krakauer sausages grilled over open flames. The beverage selections prominently feature regional German beer brands, which are served at numerous quick-service kiosks around the perimeter. Because the surrounding industrial neighborhood lacks traditional pubs, the majority of pre-game socializing occurs at the outdoor catering stands located directly on the stadium plaza or within the club’s official fan meeting points set up near the main parking areas.
Good to know
The stadium operates an efficient electronic entry system at all turnstiles, and thorough security screenings are conducted by stewards before entry. Large bags, backpacks, and professional recording equipment are prohibited inside the venue, and visitors are encouraged to use the designated storage points if available. The concession stands inside the arena accept modern cashless payment methods, including debit cards, credit cards, and contactless mobile options, making transactions fast and reducing half-time queues. Turnstiles typically open 90 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time.
Fan Shop
The primary official club mega-store for SC Paderborn 07 is integrated into the main grandstand structure of the stadium, offering an extensive selection of official team jerseys, scarves, training apparel, and unique club souvenirs. On match days, the store adjusts its opening hours to accommodate ticket holders before and after the game. The club also maintains a comprehensive online retail platform for international fans and groundhoppers, alongside smaller promotional merchandise trailers that are placed strategically around the stadium grounds during high-attendance weekend fixtures (operating hours should be verified before your visit).
FAQ
What is the official capacity of the Home Deluxe Arena?
The stadium has an official capacity of 15,000 spectators for professional football matches, which includes 6,000 covered seats and 9,000 covered standing spaces.
Which club plays its home matches at this stadium?
The arena serves as the permanent home ground for SC Paderborn 07, hosting all of their domestic league fixtures and cup matches.
How do traveling fans get to the stadium from the main train station?
On match days, dedicated shuttle buses run frequently from the Paderborn Central Railway Station directly to the stadium parking areas, providing a quick transit link.
Is the stadium fully covered by a roof?
Yes, the single-tiered architectural design features a continuous roof structure that fully covers all seating and standing sections across the four stands.
What are the payment options inside the venue?
Concession stands and retail points inside the stadium accept modern cashless payment methods, including major debit cards, credit cards, and mobile payments.
