plays in the Bundesliga top division. Home games are played at the AWD-Arena, which hosted matches in the 1974 and 2006 World Cups and the Euro 1988. Their reserve team Hannover 96 II plays in the fourth league. Their home games were played in the traditional Eilenriedestadium till they moved to the AWD Arena due to DFL directives. Arminia Hannover is another very traditional soccer team in Hanover that has played in the first league for years and plays now in the Niedersachsen-West Liga (Lower Saxony League West). Home matches are played in the Rudolf-Kalweit-Stadium.
Hanover is one of Germany's centres for ice hockey. The Hannover Scorpions play in the German top division and their home games are played in the TUI Arena. The Hannover Indians are the second ice hockey team in Hanover playing at traditional "PferdeTurm" Ice rink. Even though being just in the second league and the "Scorpions" being the reigning German champ (in 2010) the Hanover Indians have a strong fan base. This is because the Indians are originally from Hanover whereas the Scorpions relocated from Wedemark (Hanover Region) to Hanover City to access the larger market.
Hanover is also one of the Rugby union capitals in Germany. The first German Rugby team was founded in Hanover in 1878. Hanover-based teams dominated the German Rugby scene for a long time. DRC Hannover plays in the first division, and SV Odin von 1905 as well as SG 78/08 Hannover play in the second division.
The first German Fencing Club was founded in Hanover in 1862. Today there are three more Fencing Clubs in Hanover.
Hanover is a centre for Water sports. Thanks to the lake Maschsee, the rivers Ihme and Leine and to the channel Mittellandkanal Hanover hosts sailing schools, yacht schools, waterski clubs, rowing clubs, canoe clubs and paddle clubs. The water polo team WASPO W98 plays in the first division.
The UBC Hannover Tigers play in the second German Basketball Association and the Hannover
