Berlin's Sport Venues and Infrastructure Drive Local Team Preparations

Berlin clubs enter the 2026 season with direct access to upgraded training complexes and match venues that include new pitch surfaces and expanded spectator areas at the Olympiastadion in Charlottenburg and the Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Köpenick.

Why infrastructure upgrades matter for Berlin teams this summer

July marks the start of pre-season training blocks across the city, when clubs test new facilities ahead of Bundesliga fixtures that begin in August. The timing aligns with city funding allocations released in late 2025 that targeted maintenance at existing sites rather than new builds, allowing teams to focus on player development without relocation delays.

Union Berlin has shifted part of its daily sessions to a secondary pitch complex adjacent to the Alte Försterei ground, where drainage improvements completed in March now permit consistent use even after heavy rain. Hertha BSC meanwhile routes academy groups through the Sportforum Hohenschönhausen complex in Lichtenberg, where a refurbished weight room opened in May houses equipment calibrated for youth athletes aged 14 to 18.

Numbers behind the venue investments

City records show 4.2 million euros spent on the Olympiastadion field replacement last winter, part of a 12 million euro package that also covered lighting upgrades completed by 30 April. Average attendance at Union home matches reached 21,800 during the prior campaign, a figure the club attributes to incremental seating additions around the Köpenick site. Comparable data from the German Football League lists Berlin venues among the top five in Germany for pitch quality scores issued after the 2025 inspection round.

Fans planning to follow local sides can check the official club calendars for open training sessions at both the Charlottenburg and Köpenick sites, with tickets released through the respective club websites starting next week.