Sturm Graz: 150 million euros for stadium expansion - costs under criticism!

Sturm Graz: 150 million euros for stadium expansion - costs under criticism!

Graz, Österreich - Planning for a comprehensive stadium expansion in Graz takes on forms, but the cost estimate of 150 million euros causes surprising reactions. According to a feasibility study that those responsible from Sturm Graz and the city of Graz have received, the finances for modernizing Merkur Arena are not without how LAOLA1 reports.

The managing director of Sturm Graz, Thomas Tebbich, was optimistic about the results of the study, but the high costs did not remain without any questions. The estimate of the construction costs exceeds the originally targeted sum of around 100 million euros, which was estimated for an arena with up to 25,000 places. Tebbich announced a deeper analysis of the additional 50 million euros, as it is unclear whether these costs are related to measures related to the city infrastructure.

Financing questions and urban support

The public sector could be entitled to contribute to financing the project; The city of Graz plans to provide around 30 million euros. In addition, it is conceivable that the city and the Sturm Graz and GAK clubs can handle the construction costs. No large sponsor or investor is currently being sought, with Tebbich seeing the opportunity to distribute the costs over several shoulders.

A central question remains: How is the expansion actually financed? The city of Graz, as the owner of the stadium, needs support from the country, because because of the scarce budget, not everything can be held. Whether and to what extent the clubs contribute storm and GAK to the costs also remains uncertain.

place and statics in focus

Another aspect of expansion concerns the necessary renewal of the infrastructure, especially in the area of ​​security and technology, as well as better steering of the spectator flows. The Merkur Arena currently has a capacity of around 15,300 seats, but for international games it is to be reduced to 20,000 places. A increase in around 23,000 places is sought. The challenges are the space requirement around the stadium and the need to lower the lawn to enable more spectators. As noted KURIER, the renovation could be carried out without an environmental impact assessment and is intended to take up an estimated two and a half years.

The discussion about the stadium expansion in Graz is bubbling, while the situation for the two clubs is further worried on the basis of the UEFA criteria. Sturm Graz could play with successful qualifications in Klagenfurt, which is equivalent to additional pressure on those responsible. In comparison, the conversion of other stages, such as the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, is the latest example of cost explosions; This was originally calculated with 65 million euros, but the actual expenses rose to 100 million euros, as Stadionwelt.

The discussion about the construction costs for sports facilities and the associated challenges are not only important in Graz. The budgets often shoot high faster than planned, regardless of whether it is the new building of the Heinz-Steyer Stadium or other construction projects. It remains to be seen how Sturm Graz and Gak will master this hurdle and what this means for the football scene in Styria.