# SV Darmstadt 98 stadium: getting to the Böllenfalltor, home games and where to stay as an away fan

> The SV Darmstadt 98 stadium is the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor with 17,810 places. Home games in October 2026, getting there by tram, the away end, the KombiTicket and pubs before and after the match.

As of: 2026-10-05 · https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/blog/sv-darmstadt-98-stadium

The SV Darmstadt 98 stadium is the **Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor** at Nieder-Ramstädter Straße 170 in the south-east of the city: 17,810 places, its own tram stop “Merck-Stadion” and, for away fans, a separate stop at “Hochschulstadion”. Best leave the car behind: the club does not designate any parking near the stadium and expressly recommends public transport.

The “Bölle”, as the Lilien stadium (the club’s nickname means “the Lilies”) is known for short, is not a new-build arena on a greenfield site but a stadium that has grown since 1921: poplars along the northern edge, floodlight masts standing since 1981, and away fans who walk along a woodland path to their section. For a football weekend that is a gift, because match, pub and bed are close together. Our [seven studios by the Orangerie](https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/#studios) in Bessungen have a kitchenette, Wi-Fi and self check-in and can be booked from two nights. Here you will find out when the Lilien play at home, how home and away fans get there, and where to have breakfast beforehand and raise a glass afterwards.

## SV Darmstadt 98 stadium: where do the Lilien play – and how big is the Bölle?
SV Darmstadt 98 play at the **Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor**. It opened in 1921 with a festival week, and the Lilien won the first match 4–1. The name tells a piece of city history: according to the club, poplars – “Böllen” in local dialect – lined the old road to Traisa, and nearby stood a city gate that could be closed when needed – the “Falltor”. Poplars still line the northern edge today. They have been protected from felling since 1920, when the club took on the sponsorship of the trees.

Under building regulations the stadium’s capacity is **17,810 places**. The largest stand is the Gegengerade (the long stand opposite the main stand) with 6,730 places, 4,670 of them standing. The Südtribüne (south stand) holds 3,600 standing fans, the Nordtribüne (north stand) has 2,792 seats and the Haupttribüne (main stand) 2,982 places. The **away end** holds 1,706 places: 862 standing, 841 seated and three for wheelchair users. Further tickets for away fans are available in the main stand. For football history fans: the official attendance record is held by a 1981 match against FC Bayern Munich with 30,000 spectators, when the stadium was still larger.

Groundhoppers head for the terraces: according to the club, the centre of the south stand, the home end, is where the support is liveliest. If you prefer things calmer, sit in the north stand, which is also home to the family section.

## Upcoming home games and tickets: how to plan your match weekend in Darmstadt
In the 2026/27 season the Lilien play in the 2. Bundesliga (Germany’s second division). According to the club calendar, these home games are coming up (as of 4 October 2026):

- **Saturday, 10 October 2026, 13:00:** SV Darmstadt 98 – Energie Cottbus

- **Friday, 23 October 2026, 18:30:** SV Darmstadt 98 – FC St. Pauli

- **Saturday, 31 October 2026, 13:00:** SV Darmstadt 98 – 1. FC Magdeburg

The next home game after that is listed for Friday, 20 November, at 18:30. You can find all fixtures and any rescheduling in the [official fixture list](https://www.sv98.de/profis/spielplan/).

Tickets for the games against Cottbus and Magdeburg are on general sale – according to a club announcement of 23 September, in all areas of the stadium. For St. Pauli, general sale has been running since 30 September, but only for fans who already have their own account for the online ticket shop – new customers cannot buy tickets for this match. Tickets are available online and at the ticket shop at the stadium.

With a Saturday kick-off at 13:00, it is worth arriving on Friday. Check-in at the studios is scheduled from 15:00 to 20:00; a later arrival is possible by arrangement. On Saturday there is time for a late breakfast, on Sunday for a stroll through the Orangerie garden before you check out by 11:00. For the Friday evening game against St. Pauli you can drop off your luggage before check-in by arrangement. If you want to put your feet up after the match, take [Studio 1](https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/studio/1) with its bathtub, for example.

## Getting there for home and away fans: tram, KombiTicket and the away end
The stadium is right on the tram line. According to the club, **lines 2 and 9** stop at “Merck-Stadion”. From about two hours before kick-off, trams run every 7.5 minutes between “Berliner Allee” near the main station and “Böllenfalltor”. **According to the club, away fans get off one stop earlier, at “Hochschulstadion”.** After the final whistle, line 2 takes fans to the city centre and the main station every five minutes, according to the club.

The away end is in the north-east of the stadium and can only be reached via a woodland path, the Böllenfalltorweg. The away entrance opens 90 minutes before kick-off; with an away ticket you will not get in through the main entrances on Nieder-Ramstädter Straße. If you are travelling by train, the club advises taking the Odenwaldbahn (Odenwald railway) from Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof to “TU-Lichtwiese” and walking about 15 minutes from there. When large numbers of away fans are expected by rail, additional shuttle buses run from Europaplatz at the west exit of the main station to the away area.

Advance tickets for the away end are only available through your own club. Whether a ticket office opens on the day is decided in the week before the match. Prices according to SV 98 (as of October 2026): standing 16 euros, concession 14 euros, seated 36 euros, in the flexible block Y 38 euros.

Take public transport to the match: according to the club, the **RMV KombiTicket** is included in the match ticket, so travelling there and back by bus and train within the RMV network (the regional transport association) costs you nothing extra. With digital WirLilien and print@home tickets you have to retrieve it separately before every home game, at the earliest the day before. The [club’s KombiTicket page](https://www.sv98.de/rmv-kombiticket/) explains how. As an away fan, check the information on your ticket.

From the studios, take tram 3 from “Orangerie” to “Schloss” in seven minutes (according to the HEAG timetable) and change there to line 9 towards Böllenfalltor, which according to the HEAG timetable stops right at “Merck-Stadion”. If you like walking, you can also reach the stadium on foot through Bessungen. For more on trains, the airport and trams, read our guide [Getting to Darmstadt](https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/blog/getting-to-darmstadt).

## Why you should leave the car behind
SV 98 puts it plainly: there are **no designated parking spaces near the stadium**. If you come by car anyway, the club asks you to use multi-storey car parks with a tram connection, for example at the main station, at the darmstadtium and Luisencenter, or free of charge at the Nordbad. Away fans with cars park in the TU Darmstadt’s P8 car park, which costs 6 euros in cash. In addition, parts of the city have been a low-emission zone since 2015, where you need the appropriate sticker.

It is easier not to move the car at all. You can request a paid parking space on the studio grounds from us in advance. Then you park once and get around by tram or on foot all weekend. For cyclists there is the VOBA Bikepark in front of the Böllenfalltorhalle. According to the club, you cannot take your bike on the tram when travelling to the stadium. A flexible option is the **HeinerLiner**, an on-demand shuttle that takes you from anywhere in Darmstadt to the stadium: according to the club, day and season ticket holders ride at a reduced fare.

## At the Bölle with children: family section and a separate entrance
Your first stadium experience stays with you: the floodlights as the teams walk out, and the first goal celebrated in the stands. The club recommends the **family section in the north stand** (blocks N1 and N2) to families. There is no smoking there, and tickets for children and teenagers are cheaper. For families with children up to and including 13 years, there is the Bölle-Bande entrance at the north-west entrance “Karl-Hess-Platz”. It opens 90 minutes before kick-off and has its own, calmer security lane.

Children up to and including five years old do not need a ticket, but then sit on a lap and must carry ID. Prams and buggies are not allowed in the spectator areas. Because noise in the stadium can exceed 120 decibels, the club recommends ear protection for children. Baby food, fruit and a water bottle may be brought in.

## Before and after the match: pubs, brewhouse and beer garden
Match day starts in [Bessungen](https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/blog/bessungen-orangerie). At **Café LINIE 3**, named after the tram outside the door, even late risers can get breakfast; the milky coffee comes in large French bowls, and in the evening there is apple wine (Hessian cider) from the Odenwald. It is open daily 08:00–24:00, from 09:00 on Sundays and public holidays (as of October 2026). A few steps further on is **Café Godot**, a Bessungen institution since 1983: breakfast and its own baked goods in the morning, a changing lunch menu at midday, and wine, beer and cocktails in the evening.

After the final whistle, many head to the **Grohe Brauhaus**. It is on the same street as the stadium, Nieder-Ramstädter Straße, just at its city-centre end. According to the brewhouse, beer has been brewed on the site for around 170 years. There is Hell, Pils, Weizen, Märzen and Bock, plus Hessian cuisine, and Fassbrause (a non-alcoholic shandy-style drink) for the driver. It is open daily from 11:00 (as of October 2026), the beer garden during the milder half of the year. With a larger group, it is best to reserve in advance.

On the Marktplatz, the **Darmstädter Ratskeller** has been brewing its own Helles, Dunkles and Hefeweizen since 1989 in the Old Town Hall dating from 1598. The Braustube (taproom) is open daily until 01:00. From October to April some areas have closing days, so it is worth checking the website. From there, tram 3 takes you back to the Orangerie without changing. You will find more bars, live music and clubs in our guide [Darmstadt nightlife](https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/blog/darmstadt-nightlife). And if you still feel like exercise on Sunday, find ideas under [Sports in Darmstadt](https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/blog/sports-darmstadt).

After the last beer, bed is only a few stops away. Travelling with friends? All [studios are in the same building](https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/#studios), each for up to two people. For a [short break in Darmstadt](https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/short-break-darmstadt) with the whole group, simply email us with your dates and the number of guests.

## Places
- **Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor** – Nieder-Ramstädter Straße 170, 64285 Darmstadt – approx. 1.5 km from the studios – Home of SV Darmstadt 98 since 1921, 17,810 places under building regulations, away end in the north-east.
- **Haltestelle Merck-Stadion** – Nieder-Ramstädter Straße, 64285 Darmstadt – approx. 1.2 km from the studios – Stop for home fans; on match days lines 2 and 9 run every 7.5 minutes from about two hours before kick-off.
- **Haltestelle Hochschulstadion** – Nehringweg (An den Lichtwiesen), 64287 Darmstadt – approx. 1.6 km from the studios – According to the club, away fans get off here; the north-east away entrance can only be reached via the Böllenfalltorweg.
- **Haltestelle Orangerie** – Bessunger Straße, 64285 Darmstadt – approx. 0.1 km from the studios – Your stop by the studios: tram 3 to the Schloss in seven minutes, change there towards the stadium.
- **Café LINIE 3** – Ludwigshöhstraße 1a, 64285 Darmstadt – Daily 08:00–24:00, Sundays and public holidays 09:00–24:00 (as of October 2026) – approx. 0.2 km from the studios – Breakfast for late risers too, and apple wine from the Odenwald – ideal before a 13:00 kick-off.
- **Café Godot** – Bessunger Straße 2, 64285 Darmstadt – Mon–Sun from 09:00, lunch 11:30–14:00 (as of October 2026) – approx. 0.2 km from the studios – A Bessungen institution since 1983: breakfast, lunch menu and wine, beer and cocktails in the evening.
- **Grohe Brauhaus** – Nieder-Ramstädter Straße 3, 64283 Darmstadt – Daily from 11:00, lunch 11:00–14:00; beer garden during the milder half of the year (as of October 2026) – approx. 1.1 km from the studios – Darmstadt brewhouse with Hell, Pils, Weizen, Märzen and Bock – the classic after the final whistle.
- **Darmstädter Ratskeller – Hausbrauerei** – Marktplatz 8, 64283 Darmstadt – Taproom Mon–Sun 10:00–01:00, beer garden Mon–Sun 10:00–23:00; some closing days from October to April (as of October 2026) – approx. 1.5 km from the studios – Brewpub since 1989 in the Old Town Hall dating from 1598, overlooking the Marktplatz and the Schloss.

## Tips
- Autumn school holidays 5–18 October 2026: according to HEAG mobilo, tram lines 1, 2 and 4 to 9, including the stadium lines 2 and 9, run with diversions and cancelled stops. Line 3 from the Orangerie is not affected. Before the match on 10 October, check the latest updates on heagmobilo.de.
- The stadium usually opens 90 minutes before kick-off. The club generally publishes detailed match-day information one to three days in advance on sv98.de.
- Bags and backpacks may be no larger than A4; hand in larger items at the entrance.
- Neutral or a groundhopper in the home sections? Leave the visiting team’s shirt and scarf in the studio. According to the club, fans in away colours are refused entry to parts of the opposite stand and the south stand.
- Digital match tickets: you can retrieve the RMV KombiTicket from the day before the match – ideally while still in the studio, using the Wi-Fi.

## FAQ
- **Where is the SV Darmstadt 98 stadium?** SV Darmstadt 98 play at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, Nieder-Ramstädter Straße 170, 64285 Darmstadt. Tram lines 2 and 9 stop at “Merck-Stadion”, right by the stadium.
- **How many spectators does the Stadion am Böllenfalltor hold?** According to the club, the stadium has a capacity of 17,810 places under building regulations. The away end holds 1,706 places, and further away tickets are available in the main stand.
- **Where do away fans get off in Darmstadt?** According to the club, away fans get off at the “Hochschulstadion” tram stop and walk along the Böllenfalltorweg to the away entrance in the north-east. By train, take the Odenwaldbahn from the main station to “TU-Lichtwiese”, then walk about 15 minutes.
- **Is public transport included in the ticket?** Yes, according to SV 98 the RMV KombiTicket is included in the match ticket. With digital WirLilien and print@home tickets you have to retrieve it separately before every home game, at the earliest the day before.
- **Can you park at the stadium?** There are no designated parking spaces near the stadium for home fans; the club recommends public transport. Away fans park in the TU Darmstadt’s P8 car park for 6 euros in cash.
- **Where can away fans stay in Darmstadt?** For example in our seven studios by the Orangerie in Bessungen, with a tram connection to the stadium and Bessungen pubs around the corner. Each studio sleeps up to two people, all are in the same building, and bookings start from two nights.

## Sources
- [SV Darmstadt 98: Stadioninfos (Kapazität, Name, Eigentum)](https://www.sv98.de/stadion/merck-stadion-am-boellenfalltor/stadioninfos/)
- [SV Darmstadt 98: Anreise zum Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor](https://www.sv98.de/stadion/stadionbesuch/anreise/)
- [SV Darmstadt 98: Gästeinformationen (Tickets, Gästeblock, Parken, Bahn)](https://www.sv98.de/stadion/stadionbesuch/gaesteinformationen/)
- [SV Darmstadt 98: Die wichtigsten Infos (Stadionöffnung, Einlass, Taschen)](https://www.sv98.de/stadion/stadionbesuch/die-wichtigsten-infos/)
- [SV Darmstadt 98: Mit Kind ins Stadion](https://www.sv98.de/stadion/stadionbesuch/mit-kind-ins-stadion/)
- [SV Darmstadt 98: RMV-KombiTicket](https://www.sv98.de/rmv-kombiticket/)
- [SV Darmstadt 98: Spielplan 2026/27](https://www.sv98.de/profis/spielplan/)
- [SV Darmstadt 98: Startseite mit Terminkalender (Heimspiele Okt./Nov. 2026)](https://www.sv98.de/)
- [SV Darmstadt 98: Tickets für Cottbus und Magdeburg im freien Verkauf (23.09.2026)](https://www.sv98.de/jetzt-tickets-sichern-heimspiele-gegen-cottbus-und-magdeburg-im-freien-verkauf/)
- [SV Darmstadt 98: Tickets für FC St. Pauli im freien Verkauf (30.09.2026)](https://www.sv98.de/jetzt-tickets-sichern-heimspiel-gegen-fc-st-pauli-im-freien-verkauf/)
- [Wikipedia: Stadion am Böllenfalltor (Eröffnung 1921, Flutlicht 1981, Zuschauerrekord)](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadion_am_B%C3%B6llenfalltor)
- [HEAG mobilo: Bauarbeiten in den Herbstferien 5.–18. Oktober 2026](https://www.heagmobilo.de/bauarbeiten-im-stadtgebiet-darmstadt-in-den-herbstferien-vom-5-18-oktober/)
- [HEAG mobilo: Fahrplan Linie 3 (gültig ab 14.12.2025)](https://www.heagmobilo.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Fahrplan_3_14.12.2025.pdf)
- [HEAG mobilo: Fahrplan Linie 9 (Schloss – Merck-Stadion – Böllenfalltor, gültig ab 14.12.2025)](https://www.heagmobilo.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Fahrplan_9_14.12.2025.pdf)
- [HeinerLiner: On-Demand-Shuttle Darmstadt](https://www.heinerliner.de/)
- [Café LINIE 3: Wer wir sind (Name, Milchkaffee, Frühstück, Apfelwein)](http://www.linie3.de/)
- [Café LINIE 3: Öffnungszeiten](http://www.linie3.de/oeffnungszeiten.html)
- [Café Godot: Website mit Öffnungszeiten](https://www.cafe-godot.de/)
- [Grohe Brauhaus: Website mit Öffnungszeiten](https://grohe-brauhaus.de/)
- [Brauerei Grohe: Biersorten (Hell, Pils, Weizen, Märzen, Bock, Fassbrause)](https://brauerei-grohe.de/)
- [Darmstädter Ratskeller: Über uns (Hausbrauerei seit 1989, Altes Rathaus von 1598)](https://www.ratskeller-darmstadt.de/ueber-uns)
- [Darmstädter Ratskeller: Unsere Brauerei (Helles, Dunkles, Hefeweizen)](https://www.ratskeller-darmstadt.de/unsere-brauerei)
- [Darmstädter Ratskeller: Öffnungszeiten](https://www.ratskeller-darmstadt.de/oeffnungszeiten)

Stay: 7 studios in Darmstadt-Bessungen – https://darmstadt-ferienwohnung.de/en/index.html.md