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 parties of Greens, SPD and CDU in Hamburg-Altona presented a comprehensive package of measures 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 a traffic chaos. This grievance now has to be tackled, as reported.

A central problem is the significantly reduced parking spaces. While 8,300 parking space was originally approved, only about 4,700 are currently available. This is not only due to the construction work on the athletic, but also the use of some areas as refugee accommodation and the coverage of the area by the A7 lid construction site. This development not only endangers the accessibility of the event halls, but could also significantly impair the operation of the stadium.

diverse solutions

in the strategy chief-objectively referred to as printed matter 22-1123-the district factions are calling for the development of new traffic strategies. A proposal provides for the construction of parking pallets on existing large parking spaces. The Hamburg finance and traffic authority is asked to support the HSV in the construction and to identify suitable locations. In addition, cooperations 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 considered.

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

heart: digitization

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 site. These digital solutions are not only an answer to the current challenges, but should also contribute to the fact that all road users can benefit from the improved flow of traffic.

As Dennis Mielke from the SPD notes: "The arrival and departure must work." His party has long been committed to solving the traffic problem around the arenas. In particular, the consideration of cycling, by building new bicycle parking systems and secure paths to separate the vehicle traffic, plays a central role here. In particular, the openings of the U5 stop "Arenen" are considered crucial to increase mobility.

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

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