It is important for safety in the Euroborg that the first and second rings of the stadium are separated from each other. That was supposed to happen during the winter break, but has been postponed until the summer.
Making plans for the renovation and ordering building materials and arranging personnel takes more time than expected. This makes a separation of the first and second rings unfeasible during the winter break, Mayor Koen Schuiling told the city council in a short announcement on Wednesday.
It is a setback for Schuiling, who has been in discussions with the club about the measures for months. He had hoped to meet the original schedule, but said he understood the delay.
Matches got out of hand
Last season, a number of matches in the Euroborg stadium got out of hand. Supporters entered the field, a player was punched and smoke bombs and beer cups were thrown, after which matches were stopped. The last home game in the disastrous season for FC Groningen had to be played without an audience by order of the municipality.
After research in the summer, a separation between the first and second ring in the North Stand, where the hard core of the club is located, turned out to be one of the most drastic measures to increase safety. Too often people with a ticket for the top ring stand on the bottom one, making it too busy.
The first ring must also become a standing stand. The top ring remains a seating stand. Part of the operation also includes installing toilets and catering facilities on the top ring. They are not there yet. The problem with crowds should be solved by separating the two sectors. Someone with a ticket for the top ring can only enter there and not go down.
‘Need more time to implement it’
According to FC Groningen, it is good that the sector separation has been postponed. “We need more time to implement this,” says spokesperson Richard van Elsacker. “We are fine with the proposal to move the renovation to the summer.”
FC Groningen and the municipality recently discussed the feasibility of the adjustment in the stadium. Van Elsacker indicates that a lot is being asked of the club, and that the club’s matches are currently running smoothly. “The atmosphere in the stadium is great. The municipality also sees this. We would like to compliment the supporters for this.”
‘You can’t do that to people’
Chairman John de Jonge of the supporters’ association is also happy that the sector separation has been postponed. He understands the wish, but does not believe that season ticket holders should be confronted with such a drastic change halfway through the season. “I saw the drawings and section H would be split in half,” he says. “Then you start breaking up groups and you can’t do that. So I’m glad it doesn’t work out now.”
After the current season, supporters can choose where they want to sit again in the summer. He hopes to gain support from supporters for the change that will take place before the summer. “Let’s just do it right now instead of quickly with an emergency solution.”
Postponement, not adjustment
According to the club and municipality, postponement does not mean cancellation. The implementation of the improvements is not up for discussion, says Schuiling. Van Elsacker: “The KNVB also requires us to separate the first and second rings. It is a license condition.”
The bill for the renovation lies with FC Groningen and reportedly amounts to several thousand euros. The club has until March 2024 to finalize planning and financing. Promotion to the Eredivisie is extremely convenient for the club to be able to bear the financial burden that the safety measures and renovation entail. “If we don’t get promoted, it will still be quite a challenge.”