In May 1998 HSV decided to replace the unpopular Volksparkstadion with a brand new stadium, not only to help Germany get ready to host the Football World Cup, but also because it was getting increasingly more difficult to meet the safety standards with such an old facility.
U svibnju 1998. godine, HSV je odlučio zamijeniti nepopularni Volksparkstadion sa novim stadionom, zbog pomoći Njemačkoj za SP u nogometu, ali i zbog toga jer je bilo jako teško imati standarde sigurnosti sa tako starim stadionom.