GDR Sports Center Evolution: A Look Back at the World Youth Stadium
The Arena, a historical venue in Berlin, has undergone a significant transformation over the years. From 1954 to 1961, it served as the home ground for SC Dynamo Berlin, the predecessor of the BFC Dynamo.
Before the construction of the new headquarters for the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), the site was used for various purposes. Originally, it was a military parade ground established in 1820, later becoming the Garde-Füsilier-Regiment barracks ("Maikäferkaserne") in the mid-19th century. In 1929, a police stadium was built on the site, which was later known as the Walter-Ulbricht-Stadion (later Stadium of the World Youth) after World War II. The stadium was demolished in 1992.
The Arena was also the stage for the International Peace Race from 1952 to 1964. The DDR national team played a total of 13 international matches at the stadium, including the legendary qualifying match for the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico in 1969.
The main arena was not just limited to sporting events. It was also used for political events.
The former Police Stadium grounds bordered the Chausseestraße in the east, the Habersaathstraße (formerly Kesselstraße) in the south, and residential areas along the Scharnhorst and Boyen streets in the north and west. The grounds included other football fields, nine tennis courts, two throwing areas, a heavy athletics facility, and a functional building with sanitary, administrative, and catering rooms.
The decision to move the BND to Berlin was made in 2004 under then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, with the aim of simplifying communication between the BND and the federal government through short distances. The BND headquarters, which is now located on the site of the former Stadium of the World Youth, was built between 2006 and 2019.
The almost one billion euro BND new building is one of the most expensive projects of all federal governments, with high costs due to subsequent expansions and construction errors. Today, the U-Bahn station of Line 6 is known as U-Bahnhof 'Schwartzkopffstraße'.
Despite the changes, the Arena continues to hold a significant place in Berlin's history, serving as a reminder of its rich past and the transformations it has undergone over the years.
