Future Europa League final stadium open huge climbing park at 99-year venue located in city forest

There are many stadiums across Europe that include unique features, but none like what Eintracht Frankfurt’s ground can offer.

Just a nine-minute walk from where the German side host their Bundesliga and Champions League fixtures is an unlikely attraction.

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Deutsche Bank Park, situated in the same place where Frankfurt have played their home games since 1925, recently opened one of Germany‘s largest climbing parks.

Prior to sponsorship from Deutsche Bank in 2020, the stadium was called Waldstadion, which translates to Forest Stadium.

So it’s not a surprise to learn that the venue is surrounded by plenty of greenery – and they’ve made use of the nearby woods.

Earlier this year, the 59,500-capacity stadium welcomed a brand-new climbing feature that involves 150 different elements, including multiple zipwires.

Within the Kletterwald, which means climbing forest, are 13 high and low ropes courses that offer a stunning view of the city.

There are five ‘mega towers’ which climbers can ascend to stand up to 29 metres high and watch over the skyline.

It also provides an impressive outside view of Deutsche Bank Park itself, as visitors can see the stadium from lofty heights.

After opening the venue on the doorstep of Frankfurt’s ground, the city’s mayor, Mike Josef, said: “This climbing park offers our citizens a completely new perspective on our city, in the truest sense of the word, and complements the already extensive sports cluster.

“Here, in the immediate vicinity of our sports park and the stadium pool, everyone – from young to old – can demonstrate their skills and abilities in a mix of fun and challenge.

“This is a great leisure program, especially for families and groups.”

Alongside the unique climbing feature a short stroll from the stadium, Deutsche Bank Park itself is mightily impressive.

After being gradually upgraded when moving on from the Waldstadion, it was built to include a retractable roof.

The roof spans 37,500 m², and it can be opened or closed within 15-20 minutes due to its high-level mechanical system.

There is also a swimming pool, a winter sports hall and beach volleyball courts around the stadium, with training pitches located in the surrounding area of the venue too.

Deutsche Bank Park is the seventh biggest stadium in Germany with its almost 60,000 capacity, and it has also been used for concerts and NFL fixtures.

Borussia Dortmund‘s Signal Iduna Park and Bayern Munich‘s Allianz Arena are the country’s largest grounds.

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Hosting a major European final

In 2024, it was confirmed that Eintracht Frankfurt’s stadium had been chosen to host a Europa League final.

Deutsche Bank Park was selected in Dublin last year to be the venue for the Europa League showpiece.

It will welcome the two finalists of the competition in 2027.

Fans will have to travel through the surrounding woods and Kletterwald to get to the stadium before the big game.

The venue has previously hosted prestigious European games, welcoming nations at Euro 2024 in Germany.

Five games were played there during the tournament, including the 1-1 draw between Denmark and England in the group stage.

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‘As good as it gets’

And it’s no wonder Deutsche Bank Park was picked, as talkSPORT’s European football expert, Andy Brassell, couldn’t speak highly enough of the venue and the atmosphere inside.

In fact, Brassell placed the ground third in his list of the most underrated football stadiums in Europe.

He told talkSPORT earlier this month: “This is a more modern stadium, you can see well from everywhere. It’s quite grand, but at the same time, the atmosphere is incredible.

“People always mention Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, even St. Pauli, which is no one’s idea of a polished sort of modern stadium, but Eintracht Frankfurt is, again, the noise is incredible.

“West Ham, Spurs, Chelsea fans that have been there in recent years, I think many of them, ones I’ve spoken to, are completely taken aback about how immense it is really.

“It is somewhere where the fans really feel it. It’s quite edgy. Especially for a big European or Cup night, it’s as good as it gets.”