Esprit Arena Esprit Arena ( originally LTU Arena ) is a multi - functional football stadium in Düsseldorf , Germany . The stadium holds 54 , 600 and has a closable roof . The special heating system allows comfortable events at the height of winter . History . It was built from 2002 to 2004 to replace the former Rheinstadion at the same site near the river Rhine . The structure ' s initial capacity of 51 , 500 was expanded in summer 2010 when seating areas were converted into standing terraces . It hosts association football team Fortuna Düsseldorf ( currently in the first division - Bundesliga ) . International matches . The Arena was not one of the venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany , but it hosted several international matches since it opened . The first international match in the Arena was an international friendly between Germany and Argentina on 9 February 2005 , ending in a 2 - 2 draw . On 7 February 2007 , Germany played their second international friendly in the Arena , beating Switzerland 3 - 1 . In their third international friendly in the Arena , on 11 February 2009 , Germany suffered a 1 - 0 defeat to Norway . The Arena also hosted two international friendlies of the Portuguese national football team . In Portugal ' s first international friendly in the Arena , on 1 March 2006 , they recorded a 3 - 0 win over Saudi Arabia . On 26 March 2008 , Portugal played their second international friendly in the Arena , suffering a 2 - 1 defeat to Greece national football team . Other sporting events . The stadium was the former home of the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe , an American football league . They were tenants half a year after it reopened to the end of the 2007 season . Espirit Arena is also due to host the Race of Champions 2010 , of which home drivers Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher have already signed up for . Esprit Arena is the host stadium for the boxing bout between Wladimir Klitschko and Jean Marc Moreck set to take place on the 3rd of March 2012 . The stadium also hosted the boxing bout between Wladimir Klitschko vs Eddie Chambers on the 20th of March 2010 ; Klitschko won the bout by 12th round KO . Music events . American rock band Bon Jovi played the arena in 2006 as part of the Have A Nice Day Tour . On New Year ' s Eve 2008 , the dance music event Sensation was held with an attendance of over 15 , 000 . Depeche Mode performed at the stadium in 2006 and 2010 . The two 2010 shows were recorded for the live albums project , Recording the Universe . The arena has played host to music festivals , including Projekt Revolution . Esprit Arena hosted the 56th Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 . Madonna played two concerts in 2006 and 2008 during her Confessions Tour and Sticky & Sweet Tour in Düsseldorf´s Esprit Arena . Naming rights . The naming rights to the stadium are currently held by clothing manufacturer Esprit . Prior to July 2009 , the German airline LTU held the naming rights . Düsseldorf ' s mayor Dirk Elbers stated that , due to treaty obligations , the arena would lose its sponsor name and be renamed " Düsseldorf Arena " for the period of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 which was held there in May 2011 . Public transport . Esprit Arena / Messe Nord is a terminus station of the Düsseldorf urban rail line 78 , part of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein - Ruhr ( VRR ) .