There's been a rollercoaster ride for soccer fans in Jena, Thuringia - the new stadium's construction far from the picture-perfect opening day they were anticipating.
After three long years, the stadium is still left wanting when it should have shone as the eastern soccer region's jewel. But, if you believe investor Lars Eberlein, the wait will be over by September 30, 2024 - 15 months later than initially planned.
The initial hiccups? Well, they've somewhat piled up in recent months, as you'll see below.
Power Outage and Overload
During a match against Meuselwitz, the stadium's lights went out during halftime. Two electronic shoe warmers, oddly enough, led to an overload in the area, causing the blackout. Surprisingly, the entire stadium had only just received power connectivity.
Pitch Heating Failure
A key component in maintaining professional-level play, the pitch heating system—was, surprisingly, never even planned to be installed. But fear not, Jena fans, it's expected to be operational by winter's end.
Incorrectly Installed Seat Shells
In the VIP and press area, all seats had to be torn down and reinstalled due to being 6.8 centimeters too low. The contractor had, ironically, made a mistake in the construction plan.
Lack of Network Connectivity
If you thought the stadium's technological problems ended there, guess again! Even as of now, the entire area still lacks an internet connection. Coaches have to download and edit videos at home during matches since there's no way to do it at the stadium itself.
Finally, local police officials did manage to get online this week! After days of searching for the supply line, they found it a mere two meters further than what the construction plan had suggested.
Stay tuned, Jena soccer fans. With this many problems, who knows what could still crops up before the new stadium's grand opening!
Enrichment Data: Initially, the new stadium in Jena, Thuringia, was planned to be completed by September 2024, but the budget nearly doubled from €34 million to €58 million, and the construction faced numerous delays.
Despite the tribulations, the stadium was finally opened on July 30, 2024, with a capacity of 15,426 spectators - significantly larger than ever planned. The new stadium replaced the aging Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld and was even awarded a Stadium of the Year nomination.
The lengthy construction led to a variety of design changes, including photovoltaic panel installation and an expansion of the functional building with two additional floors. FC Carl Zeiss Jena's enthusiastic club president, Ralph Grillitsch, believed the decision to build a new arena was justified, even after decades of struggle.
