1. FC Union Berlin will play their games in the Champions League in the Olympic Stadium. And that, although it would have been possible to hold it in the An der Alten Försterei stadium.
Bundesliga club 1. FC Union Berlin will be moving to the Olympic Stadium for their home games in the Champions League. Club President Dirk Zingler informed the members in a letter on Monday evening. Only the games in the Youth League are to take place next season in the local stadium An der Alten Försterei in Köpenick.
In the letter, the President reports that there have been many discussions about this important decision in recent weeks. “During these conversations we never had to point out to each other how important the Alte Försterei is for us. But we quickly realized how important it is to give many Unioners the opportunity to experience these games live, which are extraordinary for us Also our own sponsors and the many older Unioners who have been watching games in our stadium for many decades in the already few seats,” writes Zingler. That’s why the decision was made to host the games in the Olympic Stadium.
money or home field advantage
Union Berlin seems to want to move to the Olympic Stadium for the home games in the upcoming Champions League season. There are good arguments for this. The only question is whether they are the right ones. By Ilya Behnischmore
Champions League in Köpenick would have been possible
Previously, there had been new hope for the premier class in the An der Alten Försterei stadium after Uefa decided to extend a pilot project and thus allow standing room in European competitions again in the coming season. Zingler confirms in the letter: “Thus, taking into account many provisional arrangements and conditions and a significant reduction in our own seats and sponsor areas, even Champions League games would be possible in our stadium.”
However, only a little more than 22,000 spectators fit in the home of 1. FC Union. “We have a small stadium and have therefore been able to offer more and more members of our club no or only a few games of their club live for many years. Each of our more than 56,000 members can now be given the opportunity to experience these special games in the Champions League live, we think is the right decision,” said the President.
The Köpenickers had already moved to the Olympic Stadium for the games in the Conference League in the 2021/22 season. Theoretically, almost 75,000 spectators could now watch the Champions League premiere of 1. FC Union there. “Champions League for all Unioners – we let ourselves be guided by this idea and we will make sure that as many people as possible can afford these games,” promised Zingler.
Youngsters can play in their own living room
The Köpenicker had ended their fourth season in the Bundesliga in fourth place and thus sensationally secured participation in the European premier class. The draw for the group stage will take place in Monaco on August 31st. The first matchday is scheduled for September 19th and 20th.
In addition, by participating in the Champions League, Union’s U19 team is automatically qualified for the Youth League competition. There, in the group phase, the Berliners then meet the youth teams of the teams that were also drawn to the professionals. At least the Youth League games will then take place in the An der Alten Försterei stadium, and President Zingler is hoping for many spectators there. “All teams of 1. FC Union Berlin eV, men, women and youth, deserve our full support – no matter where and no matter when,” he writes to the members.
Broadcast: rbb24, July 3rd, 2023, 9:45 p.m
