Market parties regard the plan for a new stadium and the sports and exercise campus on the Meerdijk in Emmen as too skinny with too many uncertainties and risks. This is apparent from the reactions that the municipality of Emmen received to the plans.
The municipality of Emmen has to go back to the drawing table with regard to the business case for the construction of a Topsporthal, a new school for the Carmel College and a new stadium for FC Emmen. At the same time, a potential investor recently reported who wants to investigate the renovation of the current stadium and possibly want to pay for it (partly).
That made sports alderman Pascal Schrik and FC Emmen director Rinse Bleeker known this morning during a press conference.
The costs for the existing plan amount to around 140 million euros with an expected building start in 2029. The municipality is responsible for the costs for the school and the Topsporthal (80 million euros). The municipal cut remains closed for the construction of the stadium. By allowing commercial functions at the sports park (such as bicycle shops, supermarkets, hospitality and construction and garden centers), hope to spawn the municipality and football club De Markt to invest in a new stadium.
At the beginning of this year, the municipality of De Boer went on with the plans to gauge reactions at various market parties. On the basis of those first reactions, the plan could be tightened here and there. Instead, the municipality must now review the entire plan again.
Alderman Schrik (Wakker Emmen) reports that there have been conversations with four parties who have experience with the construction of a football stadium. The plan itself is received enthusiastically. But nobody is eager to take on the adventure in its current form, he got back in response.
Schrik: “The market has changed and companies are fully in the work of staff here and there as a result. They prefer to go for projects that are less risky. In addition, construction prices have risen and there are doubts whether the project will result in sufficient returns to cover the unprofitable top of the stadium.” This concerns things that do cost money, but cannot be recovered. Consider, for example, parking spaces at the stadium.
The municipality will therefore tinker with the business case in the coming period. Schrik received a number of tips from the market. “The parties want more guarantees. The intention is that FC Emmen itself also contributes financially. More hard and clear agreements must be made about this than is currently the case with, for example, club sponsors.”
In the current scenario, the Carmel College becomes the owner of their new building. A scenario should also be explored whether they rent the real estate instead. “In that case there is an investment value, with which that unprofitable top can be covered,” explains Schrik.
At the same time, an alternative scenario, a plan B, is developing, so to speak. According to FC Emmen director Bleeker, a private party has reported this year who wants to investigate the renovation of the current stadium. If this is a feasible card, this party will invest, with or without other investors in a new complex for the Emmer Club. According to Bleeker, this process is still in its infancy.
According to Bleeker, this is a necessary scenario that must be investigated. The ancient desire to achieve from over 8,000 to 12,500 seats and more sky boxes could also be realized through that path. “With a lick of paint and some new seats you are not there,” he says.
In this way the club does not have to bet on a horse either. If Plan A runs out of nothing, the club with their new construction wishes is immediately behind for years. And there is not that time. The current stadium, the old Meerdijk is hopelessly outdated. It will last for another five to ten years. Without replacement or thorough renovation, the professional football in Emmen is in that case written to death.
Is Plan B not demolished the flagship from the existing plans? Alderman finds shock not. The Topsporthal and the new school will come anyway, the municipality is still behind it. Schrik regards the chance that the club is now offered as a possible extra path to guarantee the future of the club. If you don’t do that, you may throw that away from the child with the bath water, according to the alderman.
While the municipality is once again considering the Business Case, FC Emmen is going to investigate the possible party or new construction of the current stadium with the unnamed party. Schrik expects that both investigations will be completed before Christmas, after which knots can be made.