A concrete support column broke during renovation work at the Weserstadion in Bremen on Wednesday, triggering a partial collapse of an upper-tier section in the east curve of the arena. SV Werder Bremen confirmed the incident, which occurred in the afternoon while crews were removing window panes in a VIP area and accidentally damaged a load-bearing pillar.
No injuries were reported, and the remaining sections of the stand pose no risk of further collapse. Approximately 1,000 seats in Block 53 of the upper tier were affected in the 42,000-capacity venue.
The timing raises questions about upcoming fixtures. Werder Bremen plans to host a test match against French top-flight side AJ Auxerre on August 15, and fifth-division SV Hemelingen hopes to play its first-round DFB Cup match against Hannover 96 at the stadium a week later. Werder's first Bundesliga home game of the season is not scheduled until September.