The roots, history and tradition of the Karlsruher Sport Club go right back to 1894 when the Karlsruher Fussball Club Phönix was formed. This club was a strong regional team in the first decade of the new century. In 1912 it merged with KFC Alemannia to form KFC Phönix.
When German football was re-organised by the Nazis, Phönix was put into one of the 16 regional first divisions. After one relegation and re-promotion the club then spent the next ten years in mid-table obscurity.
In 1952 Phönix merged with VfB Mühlberg (founded in 1890) to form the club we now know as Karlsruher Sport-Club. Strong performances through the 1950’s ensured that Karlsruhe was given a place in the newly formed Bundesliga in 1963. They struggled in the top tier and were eventually relegated, and spent most of the 1970’s and 1980’s in lower divisions.
Promotion to the Bundesliga in 1987 marked the beginning of the most successful phase of the club’s history. Between 1992 and 1997 the club finished in the top ten in six consecutive seasons, participated in the UEFA Cup three times and appeared as the losing finalist in the German Cup in 1996.
The club began to decline towards the end of the decade and were relegated in 1998. Poor performances and severe financial difficultes led to further relegation to the third tier regional league in 2000. Returning to the second division the following year, Karlsruhe remained there for the next five years and gained promotion to the Bundesliga in 2007.
Unfortunately the club could only hold on to Bundesliga status for a year, and indeed by 2012 were back in the third division.
A top place finish in 2013 secured a return to the 2 Bundesliga where they remain. In 2014/15 they came agonisingly close to promotion, finishing in third place and losing the play-off with Hamburger SC 3-2 on aggregate.
Stadium
Karlsruhe play in the Wildparkstadion. It was opened in 1955 and has been renovated three times. It currently has a capacity of 29699 (14724 seating).
Average attendance last season was 17381, 9th highest for the division.
Getting there
There are trains between Stuttgart and Karlsruhe every 40 minutes and the journey will take you less than an hou.
The stadium is on the other side of town from the sation – about an hour away on foot.
You can take the tram (Number 5 from Bay A in front of the station), get off at Durlacher Tor, and then walk.
Tickets
Ticket prices range form 12 euros (uncovered standing) to 39 euros (covered seats in the main stand). You can order online, by phone (0049 721 96434-66) and at the tourist information office.
Colours : blue and white
Local rivals : FC Kaiserslautern, VfB Stuttgart
