[citation needed] Huge amounts of debris from the houses in Hanover destroyed during World War II were used as the foundations of the stadium, with a total construction cost of 4 million Deutschmark.

[citation needed] Since 2022, the naming rights are held by construction company Heinz von Heiden [de].

However, the match was postponed two hours before kick off following reports of a "concrete security threat" and "intention to ignite explosives".

[4] Similarly, VfB Oldenburg will initially[vague] play their evening and winter home matches in the 2022–23 3.

[vague][5] All times local (CEST) The stadium was one of the nine venues chosen for (West) Germany's first hosting of the World Cup.

[citation needed] By now, due to the conversion of 8,000 terrace spots into single seating, the capacity stood at 55,000.

[citation needed] It hosted two group matches: The stadium was one of the venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

awarded the hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the major stadium work was finally put into action.

[citation needed] The redevelopments transformed the stadium completely into a football arena, and removed about 70% of the previous building.

[citation needed] This necessitated the stands behind the goals to be designed so that the upward gradient gradually increases from west to east, creating a rather peculiar[according to whom?]

The new business and corporate packages of the AWD-Arena are just like[clarification needed] the press area in the east grandstand.

[citation needed] The first football match played following the redevelopment was on 23 January 2005, when Hannover 96 lost 3–0 to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

[citation needed] After the stadium underwent extensive redevelopment in 2003–04, the open air tradition was revived again with a concert by the Rolling Stones in the new arena.

In 2013, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band as well as Robbie Williams are set[out of date] to give concerts for the first time at the stadium.