Greuther Fürth is something you will like if you're not really fond of the big business of the Bundesliga, but still want to see football at a high level. Because of its location in the north of Bavaria, it is also great to combine with other clubs in the region.
Sportpark Ronhof is with a capacity of 16.626 the smallest stadium in the Bundesliga. It is incomparable with the giant arenas of other teams in the league. But slowly, the home of Greuther Fürth - since 1910 - is transforming, but with one step at a time. This is the best thing to do, given the fact that the club doesn't have a massive fan base that would fill a stadium with a capacity of 30.000 every other week. The most recent renovation was the main stand, which dates from 2016: the former main stand covered just half the pitch and seemed more like something from an amateur team.
A building with a remarkable history: built in the Second World War as a bunker in disguise of a church, to not attract too much attention. Nowadays, it's a lot more fun at the corner of the Kronacher Straße and the Laubenweg. The bunker opened in 2021 as a brand-new fan centre for fans of Greuther Fürth, just a stone's throw away from Sportpark Ronhof.
In the historical centre of Fürth lay the roots of the football club. In Gasthaus Balzer on the Gustavstraße 61, SpVgg Fürth was founded in 1903, the predecessor of Greuther Fürth. The name of the place has changed since, but the function of the old building has stayed the same: Zum Alten Rentamt is a typical Bavarian restaurant where you can dine and drink very well.
The town hall of Fürth, was the decor of a giant celebration in 2012, after the club's promotion to the Bundesliga. The whole city wanted to catch a glimpse of the Aufstieger. Unfortunately, due to the covid pandemic, celebrations of their promotion were not allowed in 2021.
If you're into historical stadiums and stands you have to go to the Magazinstraße, in the south of Fürth. You wouldn't say, but this might be the oldest stand in Germany. We're not sure if it's really the oldest but this one has been here since 1914, and we don't have an older one in mind. A beautiful wooden stand, built for FV Franken Fürth, who hosted all the big clubs of Germany. The club was later liquidated but has been re-established as ASV Fürth, who to this day still play in front of this stand.
You can buy tickets for Greuther Fürth on the official website of the club. For most matches, you'll be able to get a ticket, except when Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund or arch-rivals Nürnberg are coming to Sportpark Ronhof.
The stadium is located in the area of Ronhof, north of the city centre, at the Laubenweg. Given its location near the A73 motorway, you can easily get there by car (exit 37, Fürth-Ronhof) but parking can be difficult. Ronhof is an area with a lot of villas and limited open parking space. On match days, you can park your car at the company RUAG, on the corner of the Kronacher Straße and the Seeackerstraße. It'll cost five euros per car.
Without a car in Fürth? Take from train station Fürth (Bayern) Hauptbahnhof, bus 173, 174 or 177 until you arrive at Friedhof.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
