‘The Second Half Of The Year Will Be Crazy’: Q’s With Andreas Kroll, CEO, in.Stuttgart

For Pollstar‘s annual Germany Focus, we speak with Andreas Kroll, CEO of in.Stuttgart, operator of the city’s Schleyerhalle and Porsche-Arena. Kroll breaks down the current state of business at both buildings, and names the three most important questions for any venue operator in 2025.

Pollstar: How’s business?
Andreas Kroll: Currently, we are very happy with business. We have expanded our range of event genres to also include exhibitions. The first half of 2025 was good, the second half will be crazy and absolutely great. We have never had so many shows as in the last two months of this year, where a lot of the time, we have double, triple or even quadruple bookings at Schleyer-Halle, and at the same time sold-out shows at Porsche-Arena.

How does this year compare to 2024 in terms of ticket sales?
2024 was already a fantastic year. We would have never thought that it would even be better in 2025 in terms of shows and ticket sales.

What challenges do you identify to your business at this point in time?
We are surfing a high tide at the moment, but we have no idea how long this will last in terms of individuals spending money, and the European economy in general – which relies heavily on car manufacturing in Stuttgart/Germany.

What opportunities do you see and harness?
The opportunities we see are clear: People who are spending a lot of money on tickets for their favorite acts should get a good product. Visitors today want an all-round event with lots of attractions, f&b stalls, and entertainment. It’s more than just a classic concert visit.

New business opportunities can also be found in international and domestic indoor sports series, like The Icon League in Germany, for instance.

Any trends you’re observing that’ll shape your business going forward?
There’s a trend for top stars to give several concerts in one city only – like Adele in Munich last year, for example.

The strength of domestic talent seems to be a big topic across Europe these days. Do you observe that at your venues, too?
Yes, definitely. The mini-residencies with two to four shows mentioned earlier are mostly German shows by mainly new and young artists.

Is there anything you’d like the international readership of Pollstar in particular to know?
We are hoping to host a breathtaking exhibition in Stuttgart in the near future – the first and only stop for the exhibition in Germany, which should make it the talk of the town.

What are the three most important questions, the operator of an entertainment venue in Germany needs to ask him or herself at this point in time?
Are we well-booked, and if not, why?
Is the venue doing enough to improve the visitors’ experience?
What is the venue doing to improve sustainability?

What’s next for in.Stuttgart?
We are in negotiations with the municipality to build a new, eco-friendly arena.

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