1. FC Union wants to realize its stadium renovation in the next three years. In the 2024/25 season, the club will therefore have to move to the Olympic Stadium – because large parts of the old stadium will be demolished during this phase.
1. FC Union Berlin will probably play their home games in the 2024/2025 season in the Olympic Stadium. The reason for the temporary move is the expansion of the An der Alten Försterei stadium. With 22,012 seats, the stadium in Köpenick is far from being able to meet the great demand from the fans.
Holds significantly more spectators: The new old forester’s house.
Complete demolition and new construction from three sides
The Bundesliga club has been pursuing the plan for some time to expand the stadium and increase the capacity to around 37,700 spectators. So far, however, the implementation has failed primarily because of the traffic concept. “As far as the traffic concept is concerned, we have made good progress,” reported President Dirk Zingler at the general meeting on Monday. For example, there is a space for the tram loop, a bus parking space and a solution for the traffic situation at the S-Bahn stations. “This must now be implemented in planning and people can then comment on it.”
Interior view of the new stadium An der Alten Försterei
The planning approval procedure, on which the building rights for the stadium also depend, can therefore continue. If there are no objections to the plans and the other factors, such as the development of building material prices, are also right, the stadium is to be renovated in the 2024/2025 season.
Apart from the grandstand, the other three sides of the old forester’s house will be completely demolished. “If we tear down the three sides and rebuild them, we will play football in the Olympic Stadium during this time,” announced Zingler. Union has had the necessary exemption from the German Football League (DFL) since promotion in 2019.
In March 2023, the club wants to provide more detailed information about the plans at an information event in the stadium and also announce the costs of the project.
Union is the new owner of the Alte Försterei property
As the club also announced, 1. FC Union has bought the entire property on which the old forester’s house is located from the Senate. For this purpose, the Bundesliga club used a clause that was agreed in the leasehold contract. The purchase price will be announced by the Senate itself in accordance with an agreement with Union. The fact that Union is now not only the owner of the buildings but also of the property itself is a “historic moment,” said President Zingler. “We’ve been playing football here since 1920 and for the first time the entire Alte Försterei belongs to us Unioners. That makes us all very happy.”
Mentally exhausted Unioners
Union coach Urs Fischer could hardly hide his disappointment after the 4-1 defeat in Freiburg. The defensive performance was too reminiscent of the debacle in Leverkusen. The World Cup break comes at the right time. By Till Oppermannmore
Other work is to be carried out on the site before the stadium is expanded. The forester’s lodge will be renovated as early as January next year. After the current season, a professional training center, a multi-storey car park and a new clubhouse are to be built in a construction period of around twelve to 14 months.
Positive developments in finance
President Zingler is also satisfied with the financial report, which was also presented at the general meeting. Union increased its turnover last season, from around 73 million euros in the 2020/2021 season to 122 million euros. Overall, after deduction of all taxes, the association made a profit of 12.7 million euros. The negative equity, which had accumulated significantly over the past two years due to the corona pandemic, was also improved. At the end of the current season it should be positive for the first time in the club’s history with plus four million euros.
Liabilities were also reduced by EUR 10 million to EUR 62 million. However, reducing liabilities is not a priority for Zingler. “Sporting success is important, then economic success comes automatically if you do it wisely.”
The club also saw growth in membership. A total of 48,368 people currently belong to the association.
Broadcast: rbb24, November 14, 2022, 9:45 p.m
