On Saturday (November 8th/1pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will be playing away against Hannover 96. In this report, we provide you with all the important information for your visit to the stadium.
Parking by car:
Public parking spaces are available in the large „Schützenplatz“ parking lot (accessible via Lavesallee and Beuermannstraße) for €5. Parking fees are managed by Hannover 96.
Parking by bus/nine-seater:
Free bus parking is available exclusively on Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke-Weg. Access is via the Ricklingen district, then across the stadium bridge onto Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke-Weg.
Public transport:
For all Hannover 96 home games, the GVH combination ticket serves as both a match ticket and a travel pass on buses, trams, and trains within the GVH (Greater Hanover Transport Association). Match tickets are valid as travel passes (DB 2nd class) from three hours before kickoff until the end of service.
For Lilien fans, the tram lines 3, 7 (towards Wettbergen) and 17 to the Stadionbrücke stop (entrance South + West) are recommended.
Approved fan paraphernalia:
Payment system:
At all points of sale in the Heinz von Heiden Arena, payment is exclusively cashless and contactless using Girocard, all common debit and credit cards, as well as smartphones or smartwatches via Apple Pay and Google Pay. In the Heinz von Heiden Arena, not only payment but also the entire deposit return process is cashless.
Photography and video recording: Photography is permitted in the Heinz von Heiden Arena with a standard digital camera (not a professional camera, but a so-called pocket camera) for taking exclusively private photos. SLR cameras, cameras with interchangeable lenses, and video cameras are not allowed in the spectator area.
Bringing beverages into the arena: Bringing alcoholic beverages into the arena is prohibited. Permitted beverages: Non-alcoholic beverages in Tetra Paks up to 0.5 liters. Anything else will be confiscated by security at the entrance.
Tickets: Severely disabled persons can purchase a discounted ticket (standing or seated) upon presentation of the appropriate identification document. If the disability ID card includes the symbol „B“, the person is entitled to bring a companion. Tickets can be booked via our ticket hotline, in the two fan shops, and via the online ticket shop.
Wheelchair users: Covered wheelchair spaces are located in blocks O1 and O8 on the East Stand and behind blocks S1-S3 on the wheelchair ramp of the South Stand (10 euros, including one companion). The companion is permitted in the stadium to assist the disabled person and receives free admission. The provided seat is located in close proximity to the wheelchair user. While this seat does not guarantee an unobstructed view of the pitch, the companion may stand behind the wheelchair user. The accompanying person does not need an additional ticket, as this is automatically included in the wheelchair user’s ticket.
People with visual impairments: In addition to wheelchair spaces, the Heinz von Heiden Arena offers special seating for the visually impaired in Block O8 with live match commentary (admission: €10). The live commentators sit among the visually impaired fans and provide them with detailed explanations of the game for 90 minutes. This allows blind people to visualize the Reds‘ game in their mind’s eye while simultaneously enjoying the authentic live atmosphere. Hannover 96 provides the technical equipment for this service.
For people with visual impairments who use wheelchairs, we have reserved wheelchair spaces (with live match commentary) in Block O8. A companion is permitted in the stadium to assist the person with a disability and receives free admission. The provided seat is located in close proximity to the visually impaired person.
Deaf and visually impaired people: Seats are also available for these individuals in Block O8. The caregiver for the deaf/visually impaired people is proficient in Lormen and supervises these people throughout the entire game.
People with other severe disabilities: People with other severe disabilities are welcome to contact our disability officer, Detlef Kühne (see below), at any time with questions.
Parking: As before, the police and security service will direct people with the „Special Parking Permit for Severely Disabled Persons with Exceptional Walking Difficulties“ to the parking lot (P4) of the State Sports Federation (LSB) on Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke-Weg. From there, the accessible entrance at the South Entrance (tickets for blocks S1-9, S10-16, O5-8, and O14-17) is easily accessible. People with the „Special Parking Permit for Severely Disabled Persons with Exceptional Walking Difficulties“ can also park in the parking lot (P2) at the Schützenplatz to use the accessible North/East Entrance (tickets for blocks N1-8, N10-19, W1-7, O1-4, and O10-13).
„` Note: The above-mentioned special parking permit is only valid in conjunction with an admission ticket!
Restrooms: There are five accessible restrooms in both the north and south lower tiers. Three additional restrooms are located near the wheelchair-accessible seating area.
Disability Officer:
Detlef Kühne
Telefon: 01525 3663551, E-Mail: detlef.kuehne@hannover96.de
The pairings for the first round of the DFB Cup have been drawn: SV Darmstadt 98 will face FC Carl Zeiss Jena away from home. The draw took place on Saturday evening (June 6th) at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. Under the supervision of DFB Vice President Peter Frymuth, Referee of the Year 2026, Deniz Aytekin, who acted as the draw's host live on ARD, drew the match between Darmstadt and Jena.
From the warm opening ceremony to the awards ceremony: The German Football ID Championship in Darmstadt offered exciting games, many wonderful encounters and a well-deserved German champion in the Hesse selection, which also included players from the SV 98 ID team.
The first dates for SV 98's preparations for the 2026/27 second division season have been set: On June 25th, the professional team will return to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor to undergo various medical tests and performance diagnostics. The first team training session will take place on June 27th in the Odenwald region.
Who will SV Darmstadt 98 face in the first round of the DFB Cup? This question will be answered this coming Saturday (June 6th). The draw for the first round will be broadcast live on ARD's Sportschau. We'll be taking a look and providing you with all the information. We'll also be celebrating with the fan team's survival in the Kreisklasse B (eighth tier) and taking a look across the border to Texas in the USA. All this and more for you in "Lilies Across the Board" on Wednesday.
Fraser Hornby's time at Darmstadt 98 comes to an end after three years. The Scottish attacking midfielder is moving to VfL Wolfsburg. Both clubs have agreed to keep the transfer fee confidential.
An eight-goal thriller to close out the season. The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team took to the pitch one last time this season on Saturday (May 30th) – away against FC Eddersheim. The young Lilies secured a 5-3 victory in Eddersheim, finishing the 2025/26 Hessenliga season in eleventh place. Even more remarkable, however, was the U21's run at the end of the season: the Blue and Whites won their last five matches, scoring an impressive 22 goals in the process.
Barcelona, Spain. A global city right on the Mediterranean. Over 1.7 million people live here. And one of them is Clemens Riedel. The 22-year-old former Darmstadt player moved from SV 98 to Espanyol Barcelona last summer – from youth academy to professional in the Spanish first division. We spoke with Riedel about his first year in Barcelona, the past season, and his still close ties to Darmstadt.
SV 98 can continue to rely on the services of Fabian Nürnberger. The Lilies have extended the expiring contract with the Bulgarian international.
Grayson Dettoni will continue to wear the SV 98 jersey. The Lilies have exercised their option to buy the defender, who was previously on loan from FC Bayern Munich.
The German Football Championship for People with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) kicks off on Sunday – and it's taking place in Darmstadt's Bürgerpark! Last week, the Darmstadt 98ers' home ground offered a different kind of sporting event: a karate demonstration. We also take a look at the opponents for the new season and celebrate two birthdays this week. You'll find all this and much more about Darmstadt 98 in our usual "Lilies Across the Board".
„I’m proud of you,“ were the words of U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt to the team after they secured their place in the Hessenliga. On Saturday (May 23rd), SV Darmstadt 98’s U21 team had the chance to stay in the league against Turabdin Babylon Pohlheim – and they seized it impressively! The young Lilies delivered a convincing 5-1 goal fest, but at the same time still needed help from other teams to guarantee their survival. However, because their direct rivals, CSC 03 Kassel, narrowly lost in Stadtallendorf, the U21 team was finally able to celebrate.
For the fourth time, the Haftpflichtkasse insurance company and SV Darmstadt 98 have jointly awarded four clubs with the Volunteer Award. The award ceremony, including the presentation of the checks, took place last Sunday (May 17th) before the home game against SC Paderborn at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The Volunteer Award, established in 2023 by the Haftpflichtkasse and SV Darmstadt 98, aims to strengthen volunteer engagement and promote outstanding projects.