Union Berlin plays Champions League at Olympiastadion Hertha BSCs

50,000 more places

1. FC Union Berlin will play their home games in the Champions League in the Olympic Stadium and not in their own stadium at the Alte Försterei. Club President Dirk Zingler informed the members of the Bundesliga club of this difficult decision in an email on Monday.

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“I understand the disappointment of those who would have liked to see Champions League games at the An der Alten Försterei stadium and even forgone their own ticket. Basically, with our decision, we have put the possibility of being able to offer all Unioners tickets for these games over the possibility of playing these games in front of a rather small group of Unioners at the Alte Försterei,” the letter said.

The stadium at the Alte Försterei can only accommodate a good 22,000 fans, most of them standing. More than 74,000 people can watch the games in the Olympic Stadium. Games in Köpenick would have been possible, however, since UEFA extended a program that also allows standing room in the “premier class”. “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.

Union Berlin achieves millions in revenue in the Olympic Stadium – relocation also in 2025/26

Economically, the move brings the “iron” for the three group games alone additional income in the mid-single-digit million range. In 2021, Union had already played its home games in the Conference League in the Olympic Stadium, as UEFA did not allow standing room at the time. The four home games in the Europa League took place in the stadium at the Alte Försterei last season.

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In its fourth year in the Bundesliga, the club from East Berlin sensationally secured participation in the “premier class” as fourth in the table. The draw for the group stage will take place in Monaco on August 31st. The first matchday is scheduled for September 19th and 20th.

Because of the conversion of the old forester, Union also wants to move to the Olympic Stadium for a season in two years. “We do it quite consciously because we want to keep the time when we wouldn’t play here as short as possible,” Zingler said in mid-June. Therefore, all accompanying construction measures should be finished before then. After the renovation, the Union Stadium will have a capacity of around 37,700 seats.

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