Stadium expansion in Essen: 29 million euros for new fan infrastructure!

Stadium expansion in Essen: 29 million euros for new fan infrastructure!

The city of Essen has big plans: a comprehensive expansion of the stadium on Hafenstrasse is planned to meet the diverse requirements of modern football. The previously closed four corners of the stadium are to be extensively expanded. These measures are aimed not only at improving spectator capacity, but also at significantly improving the infrastructure around the stadium. The Essen City Council has already made a planning decision, and a building decision should follow by the June meeting in order to move the project forward quickly. The basis for this is a newly negotiated lease agreement between GVE Property Management Stadt Essen GmbH and the traditional association Rot-Weiss Essen e.V. ( essen.de ).

The total costs for the expansion amount to around 29.4 million euros gross, of which around 4.7 million euros can be claimed as input tax. The actual financing requirement increases to around 24.7 million euros, which is to be raised gradually from 2025 to 2027. The new lease agreement is based on a flexible model that was specifically designed for the 3rd league. The key points are promising: a shorter term of a maximum of five years, a reduced fixed lease and a higher variable lease. From 2027 onwards, new income will flow from the new allocation of naming rights to GVE.

A social added value for the fans

An important part of the planning is the construction of a new social building that focuses on respect, tolerance and against discrimination. This multifunctional building will not only serve as a clearing and accreditation point for international games, but will also focus on social fan work. Up to one million euros are planned for the construction, which underlines the social aspect of football in Essen.

The planning has also been well thought out for everyone who comes to the stadium by bike: instead of a large bicycle parking garage, there will be ground-level parking facilities, which are not only more cost-effective but are also designed to be barrier-free. Where exactly these systems will be built is still being determined. Construction will begin after the end of the 2025/2026 season in coordination with Rot-Weiss Essen and the partner clubs. Construction work is scheduled to begin by June 2026 at the latest, provided all permits are received.

Support for fan projects

In a further context of fan work, the DFB and DFL have announced that they will increase financial support for fan projects in the coming years. The subsidies are to be gradually increased to up to 175,000 euros per fan project by 2028, which is crucial for supporting young fans and stadium safety measures. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf highlights the role of these projects as contact points for fans and emphasizes that the increase in funding also depends on political support. The initiative is based on the “National Concept for Sport and Safety” and will be in the hands of states and municipalities ( augsburger- Allgemeine.de ).

What does this mean for local football and Rot-Weiss Essen fans? It's clear: the city of Essen and its clubs work hand in hand to promote a positive, diverse and inclusive fan scene. The announced measures will not only upgrade the stadium, but also strengthen the entire fan culture in the region.