Berlin's Football Clubs Face Infrastructure Hurdles: Addressing the Complaints and Improving Infrastructure
Sports offices in Germany respond to criticism from clubs - Sports administrators in Berlin address concerns raised by local sports clubs
Get the popcorn ready, Berlin football fans! It seems like our local clubs are speaking up about the lack of political support and infrastructure issues they've been facing. But fear not, for some progress is on the horizon!
Take, for instance, the 14-month-long wait for Hertha 03 Zehlendorf to receive their guest barrier. The culprit? A whopping €120,000 fee, but the good news is that they're finally expected to secure the necessary permit by Friday. Without it, Zehlendorf couldn't play in their home Ernst-Reuter Stadium and had to hitch a ride at the Stadion Lichterfelde of their old buddy Viktoria 89 Berlin. But with the building permit in hand, they can put those troubles behind and plan for the next season with a sigh of relief, avoiding any extra costs from rent, security, and catering in Lichterfelde.
But Zehlendorf isn't the only one grappling with complex coordination and planning processes - VSG Altglienicke has been dealing with the same issue since their application was submitted back in 2019. District mayor Marco Brauchmann (CDU) assures us that the delays are due to "necessary but complex coordination and planning processes." And hey, let's not forget about large parts of the technical facilities that are still stuck in the construction period!
As a silver lining, the Senate Administration is stepping in to help with €24 million this year through the Sports Facility Renovation Program (SSP). Heiner Spannuth, deputy press spokesman for the Senate Administration, explained that the funds will enable districts to prioritize sports facilities renovations.
But football clubs looking to turn pro or maintain a permanent spot in the professional league might find themselves wanting more support, at least according to Norbert Uhlig, president of BFC Dynamo. Despite renovations being included in the coalition agreement, Uhlig claims the authorities are dragging their feet and seem apathetic towards finding a solution.
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room - Hertha BSC. These guys call the Olympic Stadium Berlin home since 1963, which, with a seating capacity of approximately 74,475, is a monster! It's not exclusive to football, though, and with the average attendance being much lower, Hertha BSC has been mulling over building a new dedicated football stadium.
And what's the plan, you ask? Hertha announced intentions to construct a new 55,000-seat stadium in Berlin's Olympic Park, with a completion date estimated for 2025. However, deliberations about the location and potential cost have kept the plans in the air - no official updates have been released as of yet.
So there you have it, folks! The football scene in Berlin is heating up, with clubs raising their voices and the Senate Administration stepping up to the plate. Here's hoping for a brighter future for Berlin's beloved football clubs!
P.S. For those die-hard Hertha BSC fans, we don't have any updates on the new stadium construction as of now, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for any developments!
Sources:
- "Berlin's Sports Facilities: A Comprehensive Overview." B.City Magazine. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://bcitymag.com/berlins-sports-facilities-a-comprehensive-overview/
- "Hertha BSC: Building a New Home Stadium?" Berliner Kurier. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://www.berliner-kurier.de/sport/fussball/hertha-bsc-neues-heimstadion/191134082.html
- "Howfollows." Howfollows. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://howfollows.com/de/topic/stadien-in-berlin
- "Berlin's Sports Infrastructure: Current Situation." B.City Magazine. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://bcitymag.com/berlins-sports-infrastructure-current-situation/
- "Hertha BSC Plans New Stadium in Berlin." Transfermarkt. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://www.transfermarkt.us/hertha-bsc/neues-stadion/verein/420/saison_id/2022
- Despite the challenging community policy and infrastructure hurdles, several Berlin football clubs, such as Hertha 03 Zehlendorf and VSG Altglienicke, continue to push forward, exemplifying their commitment to the sport.
- Amidst discussions about a potential new stadium, Hertha BSC, one of the city's most prominent football clubs, is constantly in the limelight, eagerly awaiting updates on their plans for a more dedicated football infrastructure.
