The exploding energy costs pose existential problems for mass sports clubs such as Eimsbütteler TV. Austerity measures, the increase in membership fees and even self-sufficiency plans: Hamburg’s third-largest club is doing a lot. Alone, it will not be enough.
The calls for help from politicians are getting louder, but sport is not included in the federal government’s latest relief package either. Everyone knows that the gas and electricity price hammer will come, but how hard it will hit in the end cannot be quantified at the moment. Frank Fechner also finds it difficult to make a forecast for the coming year, since some providers no longer want to make any offers to clubs like ETV. But then he manages to make an estimate.
“We now need more than expressions of solidarity.”
— Frank Fechner, Chairman of the ETV
“For the 2023 budget, we have to assume that we will have 500,000 euros in additional energy costs,” says the chairman of the Eimsbüttel Gymnastics Association in an interview with NDR. “It’s hard to imagine how that’s going to be covered.”
With around 16,500 members, the ETV is one of the largest clubs in the Hanseatic city and is a prime example of the problems faced by the big players in mass sport, who have to refinance their own sports facilities themselves.
“Then the club is insolvent”
“We will use up equity in the coming year. You will be able to afford that for a few years and then the club will be insolvent,” explains Fechner and makes clear demands on politicians: “I expect the relief packages to finally include sport and give the sports clubs and athletes the security that they can continue operations over the winter.”
Grote promises help for “existentially affected clubs”
“We are already working at Hamburg level to put a hardship mechanism into effect with which we can help clubs quickly and easily, as in the Corona crisis, that are really directly and existentially affected,” said Hamburg’s Sports Senator Andy Grote (SPD ) the NDR. The Hanseatic city wants to set up an emergency fund worth 125 million euros for all those affected by the energy crisis for whom the help of the federal government is not sufficient.
No sport in the federal government’s relief package
So far, it has not been enough for sport because it was not included in the federal government’s most recent relief package of 65 billion euros.
“We are in talks with the federal government and have clear expectations,” says Hamburg’s Finance Senator Dr. Andreas Dressel (SPD), who sees the “basic issues” as the responsibility of the federal government. “There is a small point for culture in the relief package. It would also be nice if there were a small point for sports clubs.”
DFB and DOSB put the federal government under pressure
The protests and warnings from the leading and umbrella organizations such as the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) are getting louder, but the federal government refers to the basic responsibility of the states and municipalities.
“It remains to be seen whether further measures will be necessary in addition to and beyond the relief packages already decided by the federal government,” said a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior in response to a request from “Welt”, pointing out that the lead for federal measures to deal with the energy crisis lies with the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection.
Reduced floodlights and flow restrictors in the showers
The shifting of responsibilities does not help Frank Fechner when looking into the uncertain future. Like everyone else, the club has to help itself first of all – and it does. “In the new Hoheluft sports center only one of the two saunas is running at the moment. We are asking the footballers to only switch the floodlights to 60 percent and we have installed flow limiters in the showers so that not so much warm water runs through them,” he explains Association Chair. The temperatures in the halls and course rooms will also be lowered when the heating is on again.
“I believe that the 20 percent energy savings that the DOSB demands from the clubs are feasible. But beyond that, we have little opportunity to save more at the moment.”
Fee increase for ETV members
Like many other clubs, the ETV cannot avoid passing on part of the increased costs to the members. After four years at a stable level, the association feels compelled to raise its premiums by an average of 14 percent. Adults have to pay 28 euros instead of 24.50 from October 1st. “I’m almost uncomfortable that we have to increase the contributions so much after the corona pandemic, but otherwise we can no longer cover the costs,” says Fechner.
“My greatest wish is that the members remain in solidarity with their association, continue to come and understand that we have to increase the contributions.”
— Frank Fechner
“We want to continue to move the children and promote health. That is the task we have set ourselves,” emphasizes Fechner and sees the long-term solution to the energy cost problem in “generating the energy ourselves, for example by using photovoltaic systems bring the roofs or build other heating systems so that we become a little independent of district heating.” Then the electricity and gas price hammer would swing into the void at the ETV.
This topic in the program:
sports club | 09/25/2022 | 10:50 p.m
