At the general meeting, 1.FC Union announced record sales, but also increased liabilities. However, the future is promising, as the final stadium plans, membership numbers and a new “Alte Försterei share” show. By Jakob Rüger
After almost three hours the time had finally come. Agenda item 8 “Stadium An der Alten Försterei” was reached. President Dirk Zingler was particularly looking forward to the last item on the agenda of the general meeting. For the 60-year-old, it reflects the club’s great ambitions. The expansion of the stadium is a huge project that has been officially pursued since 2017.
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Now Zingler has solemnly announced that there is an editorial deadline for construction planning. This means that the planning for the construction has been completed by “AF Projekt GmbH”, which was founded at the beginning of the year. A team of 18 architects, structural engineers and planners worked out the expansion of the stadium. All of them are employed by the club, meaning 1.FC Union has completely dispensed with an external architectural office.
Virtual tour of the stadium
A ten-minute video presentation provided a first digital tour of the shell of the new stadium “An der Alten Försterei”. “Wherever people see the supports, that’s where they will stand,” said Dirk Zingler about the video presentation. The Eiserne are planning to have 40,500 seats. The main stand is to be increased and the three standing trusses are to be replaced by two-tier stands.
The renovation has already begun and 15 million euros have been invested. The training ground has been being redesigned since the beginning of last year. The first of two new grass pitches is already finished. A functional building for the men’s and women’s teams, with offices and lounges, will also be built next year. Only when the “Alte Försterei Training Center” is finished will the excavators roll into the stadium. The club management is currently assuming summer 2026. Then Union would also move to the Olympic Stadium for a season.
Union is now selling shares
The 1.FC Union wants to provide information about construction time and costs at a separate event in the near future. The club wants to raise the financing from its own resources. “We are building for the next generation,” said Dirk Zingler proudly. The president presented the almost 1,300 voting members with a new edition of the “Alte Försterei share”. This means that members of the club can purchase shares in Stadionbetriebs AG and claim to be a fractional owner of the stadium. But not every fan will be able to afford it; one share should cost an impressive 500 euros. Each member can buy a maximum of 10 shares.
The association issued such an “Alte Försterei share” in 2011. Over 5,000 members took part and gave the club a huge windfall of money to support the construction of the main stand. 120,000 shares will now be available for purchase from December, meaning 1.FC Union could earn around 60 million euros for the stadium expansion. However, this sum is probably far from enough for the ambitious project. But it doesn’t have to be, the Eiserne have long been a medium-sized company with the appropriate creditworthiness and financial strength.
Photo gallery
This is what the hometown of the Iron Ones could look like in the future
record sales, Record liabilities
In the past season, 1.FC Union achieved record sales of around 186 million euros, also thanks to the Champions League. An astonishing development, as at the time of promotion to the Bundesliga it was only around a third of the current total. But the club achieved record numbers in merchandising and sponsorship. Participation in the Champions League alone brought in around 45 million euros in additional income.
Fixed assets increased by 42 million euros, as did liabilities. These currently amount to 110 million euros (previous year 77 million euros) and were justified by President Zingler with construction liabilities and outstanding transfer amounts. However, the liabilities are almost completely covered by fixed assets (103 million euros). Union’s trump card is its own stadium and the associated club grounds, which belong to the club. But it is also clear that Union will be making very large investments in the stadium expansion over the next five years. It will be a challenge, according to the club’s management, because transfer proceeds do not finance a construction project.
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No jersey sponsor, for now
The licensed player department spent around 62 million euros last season. According to the plans, this should fall to around 50 million euros in the current season. Big earners like Bonucci and Gosens have already left Köpenick. Even without the Champions League, the club is targeting sales of 177 million euros. Union wants to end the season with a black zero. “We are ambitious and want to continue investing,” said the president, setting out the direction for the next few years.
However, there will not be a new jersey sponsor until December 31, 2024. The club consciously decided to free up the men and women for stadium shares. “proAF” will be emblazoned on the Eiserne’s jerseys from the home game against Dortmund. This means that the people of Köpenick are missing out on between 6 and 8 million euros that jersey sponsorship brings in.
More fun in women’s football
In terms of sport, Dirk Zingler drew a positive conclusion. It was a turbulent but successful season because the men’s team is allowed to continue playing in the 1st Bundesliga. “It was clear that after years of success there would be a step back at some point,” said the president. In the past season, the club’s leadership at the women’s games recovered from men’s football. “We don’t regret this decision,” said Zingler about the professionalization of the women’s team, which was rewarded with promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga.
The president underlined the importance of women’s football and said that both professional teams will have the same training conditions in the future. The 1.FC Union is growing at all levels. With 67,638 members, Dirk Zingler was also able to report a new record in this area. The president was satisfied with the overall development of the club.
Broadcast: rbb|24 Inforadio, October 3rd, 2024, 6 p.m
