2. Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen may not have been able to retain their Bundesliga or DFB Cup titles in 2024/25 but they did not end the campaign empty-handed after the DFL announced them as the winners of the Pitch of the Season award.
The DFL (German Football League) honoured six clubs overall for outstanding pitch quality.
Wolfsburg's Volkswagen Arena surface was named as runner-up to Leverkusen, while Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena took third spot.
In Bundesliga 2, Fortuna Düsseldorf impressed the jury with their MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA pitch. Hertha Berlin came second, while Darmstadt completed the podium line-up.
Watch: A drone flight through the BayArena
The six winning clubs will receive a certificate in recognition of their achievements, and the first-placed clubs in both leagues will also receive a trophy.
The official presentation of the awards will take place at the 17th meeting for greenkeepers in the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2, third division and Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga in September.
The winners at a glance
Bundesliga
Bundesliga 2
Evaluation procedure
The assessment was carried out by an expert jury consisting of three members of the DFL Expert Commission for Safeguarding Turf Quality in Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 stadiums, who are also members of the German Turf Society (DRG e.V.).
Award background
The DFL has presented the ‘Pitch of the Year’ award to promote the quality of pitches in Germany's top two leagues since the 2013/14 season. Given that the demands on pitch quality and the characteristics of the pitches are constantly increasing, this award helps the DFL to continuously suppport the further development of the quality requirements for stadium pitches.
About the evaluation system
Evaluation for the award is based on three categories: The ‘sport rating system’, the ‘jury measurement data check’ on site and the seasonal measurement data from the ‘self-test of stadium greenkeeping’.
The ‘sport rating system’ is based on the assessment of the team captains of the participating clubs and the respective referees, who give their judgement on the condition of the pitch after Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 matches.