Greater inclusion and needs-based use of space do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Flexible wheelchair spaces recognized as a stadium innovation
How can more wheelchair spaces be created without requiring additional stadium space? Our flexible wheelchair space system provides a proven solution. In the 2025/26 season report by the Bundesliga and DFB “Stadium Innovations” project group, the solution developed in collaboration with Eintracht Frankfurt and Sportpark Stadion GmbH is presented as a stadium innovation.
The report documents innovations that have been implemented and evaluated under real stadium operating conditions. Our system is described in detail from page 38 onwards.
Flexible capacities instead of fixed space allocation
Accessible seating areas must meet legal requirements while also responding to varying demand from one event to the next. Conventional solutions often reach their spatial limits.
Our wheelchair space system therefore uses variable companion seats installed on a rail system. The seats can be positioned according to actual demand, ensuring generous circulation areas for wheelchair users and permanent emergency escape routes.
This makes the previously standard fixed ratio of one wheelchair space to one companion seat more flexible. When more wheelchair spaces are needed, the corresponding areas can be made available at short notice. When demand is lower, unused companion seats can be allocated as regular seating. This allows clubs to manage capacity according to demand and make more efficient use of existing space.
Successfully implemented at Deutsche Bank Park
At Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, 182 wheelchair spaces and 252 variable companion seats were created on the second tier of the opposite stand. The implementation took into account the requirements of the Model Assembly Venue Regulation. Circulation areas and emergency escape routes remain permanently accessible.
The installation was coordinated with ongoing stadium operations and the required building approval process, without causing any restrictions on matchdays. As the structural and technical conditions vary from stadium to stadium, every project begins with an individual needs analysis and site-specific planning.
Top marks for added value
The evaluation in the season report confirms the practical benefits of the solution: the system received the highest rating of 5 out of 5 points both for added value for fans and for its recommendation to other clubs in the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, and 3. Liga. Added value for the club was rated 4 out of 5 points.
For us, being featured in the season report is valuable recognition of our development and project work. Above all, the Frankfurt example demonstrates how inclusion, comfort, safety, and economically efficient use of space can be combined.
Would you like to explore what flexible wheelchair and companion seating could offer your stadium? Get in touch with us. Together, we can develop a solution tailored to the structural conditions and actual requirements of your venue.