New traffic package: Hamburg wants to stop chaos at the Volksparkstadion!

New traffic package: Hamburg wants to stop chaos at the Volksparkstadion!

On July 3, 2025, the Greens, SPD and CDU parties in Hamburg-Altona presented a comprehensive package of measures intended to improve the traffic situation around the Volksparkstadion and the neighboring Barclays Arena. On match days, when over 60,000 fans often flock, the surrounding streets regularly turn into traffic chaos. This grievance must now be addressed decisively, as entwicklungsstadt.de reports.

A central problem is the significantly reduced parking spaces. While 8,300 parking spaces were originally approved, only around 4,700 are currently available. This is not only due to the construction work on the Athleticum, but also to the use of some areas as refugee accommodation and the loss of space due to the A7 cover construction site. This development not only endangers the accessibility of the event halls, but could also significantly affect the operation of the stadium.

Diverse solution approaches

In the strategy document - objectively referred to as printed matter 22-1123 - the district factions call for the development of new transport strategies. One proposal envisages the construction of parking pallets on existing large parking spaces. The Hamburg Finance and Transport Authority is requested to support HSV with construction and to identify suitable locations. In addition, collaborations with local companies such as Otto Dörner are to be initiated in order to open their employee parking spaces on event days. The temporary designation of parking zones in Lurup and the Science City Bahrenfeld is also being considered.

But that's not all: the strategy also includes measures to improve local public transport. The frequency of the shuttle buses to the Stellingen and Othmarschen S-Bahn stations should be increased, and longer trains should ensure that the S-Bahn transport capacities are put to the test. In order to promote the switch to environmentally friendly means of transport, the bicycle infrastructure and bike sharing offers should also be further expanded.

The heart of the matter: digitalization

A digital approach is also part of the vision: a digital ticket system for parking space reservations and an intelligent guidance system for better orientation around the stadium area are to be introduced. These digital solutions are not only an answer to the current challenges, but are also intended to ensure that all road users can benefit from the improved traffic flow.

As Dennis Mielke from the SPD states: “The arrival and departure must work.” His party has long been campaigning for a solution to the traffic problem around the arenas. In particular, taking bicycle traffic into account, through the construction of new bicycle parking facilities and safe routes to separate vehicles from vehicle traffic, plays a central role. The opening of the U5 “Arenen” stop in particular is considered crucial to increasing mobility.

The measures demanded by the parties show that the problem of traffic chaos can no longer be ignored. Critics, including representatives of the Left and the Greens, warn, among other things, of the risks of further sealing of areas, while the CDU counters that a comparison with the extremely successful use of public transport during the European Football Championship cannot be maintained. Nevertheless, it remains to be hoped that the new concepts offer concise and sustainable solutions.

At a time when mobility is not only synonymous with exercise, but also with quality of life, the coming weeks are crucial. The district assembly will today deal with the application to improve mobility around the arenas, and it remains exciting to see what the first practical steps will look like.