The Board of the Bundesliga team 1. FC Köln (Germany) has a big dream: A bigger stadium for the top-flight with capacity expansion to 70,000. But how realistic are these ideas? Two expert reports have already been commissioned in this regard.
‘express.de’ stated that a question on the top of the minds of the 1. FC Köln fans are – how do they get the tickets? The top-notch club’s home arena – the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany – is packed for every home game and there are 45,000 people on the waiting list for a season ticket. The ideal solution lies in building a bigger stadium.
However, a capacity expansion of the RheinEnergieStadion in the residential area of Cologne is more like a pipe dream with the residents saying that they would lob the legal gauntlet if expansion plans move forward.
The 1. FC Köln or FC Cologne is a German professional football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It plays in the Bundesliga, the highest level of the German football league system.
The 50,000-seat RheinEnergieStadion or the Müngersdorfer Stadium is a German football stadium in Cologne, Germany. It serves as the home facility of the Bundesliga team 1. FC Köln.
Sellout
‘express.de’ further stated that the RheinEnergieStadion presently holds 50,000 spectators. The 1. FC Köln feels that even if the stadium capacity is increased to 75,000 all events will be sellout.
Challenges Galore
The FC Köln President Jörn Stobbe wants to push the expansion plans forward once again – “We have set up an internal stadium commission. We will discuss the various issues threadbare. We have to overcome 10 major challenges in order to expand the RheinEnergieStadion.”
The lease agreement with the Cologne Sports Facilities (KSS) runs until 2034. The FC Cologne’s big dream is to expand the RheinEnergieStadion to 75,000 seats after that.
Stadium Commission
The new Stadium Commission will examine various aspects and issues over the next 12 months. These include structural engineering, operating permits, noise control, and roof construction. The study findings will then be presented at the Members’ meeting next year and the Members will be involved in the stadium expansion exercise.
Addressing Issues
Though it is being said that the above issues have been addressed several times Stobbe begs to differ – “It has not been addressed countless times. Individual structural checks have been carried out but what about the issue of inclusion? Special facilities for the wheelchair users. Neither has the issue of acoustics been addressed.”
Capacity Scenarios
The question is: Is the Board wasting time, money and resources on FC Köln by setting up a Stadium Commission? Two feasibility studies have already been conducted – one being the comprehensive AS+P study (Albert Speer and Partners – architecture and urban planning firm based in Frankfurt, Germany) from 2017. This study examined the planning law, traffic law and noise protection issues. The city, KSS (Kölner Stadtwerke – the overarching Municipal utility and infrastructure holding company for the city of Cologne, Germany) and FC Köln also commissioned a study jointly at that time. The study examined the structural engineering angle, planning and building regulations, noise control, and economic efficiency. Various capacity scenarios were explored: Fifty-eight thousand (58,000) spectators, 67,000 spectators and 73,000 spectators.
The Results
A stadium expansion of up to 75,000 seats is technically feasible. However, for maximum expansion, the listed Abel buildings would have to be demolished or partially dismantled. This is a scenario unthinkable in Cologne!
The listed Abel buildings in Germany primarily refer to the works designed by the prominent German Architect and Town Planner Adolf Gaston Abel (or Adolf Abel). Known for his significant contributions to German modernism and urban planning several of his projects are registered under the historical monument protection (Denkmalschutz)
Feasibility Studies
Both feasibility studies conducted so far also show that the site only has a building permit for a stadium with a capacity to accommodate 50,000 spectators. A building permit for an expansion to 75,000 seats is considered impossible in a residential area of Cologne. The new FC Stadium Commission cannot change this rule. However, Stobbe wants to conduct further “foundational research” to determine whether an expansion is feasible.
Legal Threat
There are numerous reasons why FC Köln’s dreams of capacity expansion of their home stadium are completely unrealistic: Traffic and parking issues, noise pollution and environmental protection! Since the stadium is located in a residential area the Junkersdorf Citizens’ Interest Group and the Müngersdorf Citizens’ Association announced several years ago that they would file a lawsuit should any expansion of the venue take place. Around 25,000 new parking spaces would have to be created around the stadium. The traffic infrastructure would have to be completely reorganized.
The Junkersdorf Citizens’ Interest Group (Bürger-Interessen-Gemeinschaft Junkersdorf e.V.) said on FC Köln’s expansion plans – “The residents’ protection plan is completely ineffective. The conditions stipulated in the initial building permit were never met. At the time, it was stated that the shuttle buses would transport the fans from the Deutz Trade Fair grounds to the stadium. However, the shuttle buses were never used and the reason given was that they were not required. Now, during the home games, all possible sidewalks in Junkersdorf and Müngersdorf are blocked by the parked cars. Should an expansion actually take place the residents will definitely file a lawsuit.”
Furthermore, the nearby Greenbelt cannot be endangered.
Economic Viability
A major obstacle is also the economic viability. According to the available expert report the expansion price tag is pegged at €215 million. The costs are likely to be significantly higher now as inflation is really high. The city of Cologne will certainly not bankroll the expansion.
Stobbe is, however, sticking to his plans – “The technical aspects have changed especially in regard to structural engineering. And even eight years ago, under Werner Spinner (former President of FC Köln), there were concerns as regards the financial risk involved. The question was whether, in the event of the club’s relegation, we would only be playing in front of 20,000 spectators against the Regionalliga Bayern (the fourth tier of the German football league system) team Spielvereinigung Unterhaching. We now know that this isn’t the case, we won’t only be playing in front of 20,000 fans in the second division. Everybody has to be patient. We will do our homework in a highly professional manner – The stadium is aging and there are areas where refurbishments are possible. But these are tough nuts to crack.”
Stobbe rejected the idea of building a new stadium on a greenfield site – “No, we’re not pursuing that at all. We wouldn’t be examining the expansion idea in Müngersdorf if we already knew it wasn’t feasible.”
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