Eight million euros for new catering and construction costs: Economics Senator Kristina Vogt (Left) is pushing for a sponsor to be found for the stadium name.
15 months ago, the away section of Bremen’s Weser Stadium was ablaze. Fans of FC Bayern Munich had lit numerous pyrotechnic flares in the upper tier of the West Curve, and the block below had to be evacuated to protect the spectators. This was not the first time that the issue of safety in the away section had been discussed. Werder decided to take action after the incidents.
And on Thursday, the club presented the way it had acted in the Weser Stadium. The guest block was moved from the upper tier of the West Curve and redesigned. There is now space for away fans in the part of the West Curve adjacent to the South Straight in the upper and lower tiers. The access routes for Werder and guest fans can still be separated here. In addition, there are no longer any Bremen fans and families who have to fear all kinds of falling objects from the upper tier guest block.
3 million euros construction costs on credit
Media appointment in the new guest block: Hans-Jörg Otto (Bremer Weser-Stadion GmbH), Werder Managing Director Tarek Brauer and Senator for Economic Affairs Kristina Vogt (from left).
During the planning phase, they first spoke to many fan representatives about their needs and ideas and ran through seven possible scenarios for improvements, explained Tarek Brauer, Werder’s managing director for organization. Then the decision was made to completely relocate the guest area. And it was finished in time for the first home game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against Borussia Dortmund.
The renovation was completed in just eight weeks. The fact that it was possible at such a rapid pace was due to the efforts of the Senator for Economic Affairs and Werder Supervisory Board Chair Vogt to the right people in the building authority. But she is now also putting pressure on Werder, because the construction costs of three million euros, together with the five million euros for the new catering area, were financed through loans. These were taken out by Bremer Weser-Stadion GmbH, in which Werder has a half share.
Vogt calls for new naming rights partner
“We were lucky that we were able to get loans for both projects from the Sparkasse and the Bremer Aufbau-Bank GmbH,” explained Vogt on Thursday, “but the public sector also provided liquidity, which was the only option since the naming rights partner of the Weser Stadium went bankrupt. We have to be creditworthy.”
But now, Chief Financial Officer Klaus Filbry is under pressure to sell the stadium name again in order to be able to pay back the loans. “I really hope that we will have a new stadium partner this season,” said Vogt.
Otherwise, it will be difficult in the long run for both the public sector and the club. I have never made a secret of that.
(Economics Senator and Supervisory Board Chair Kristina Vogt)
Filbry to find new sponsor in the first half of the season
Vogt further stressed that Bremen, as a “state with an emergency budget”, has far more important expenses and that Werder must therefore quickly look for a new sponsor. This year, despite the insolvency of the Wohninvest company, the club is fully financed, explained the chairwoman of the supervisory board, “but I am still pushing for us to find a partner this season and, if possible, in the first half of the season.”
Werder has to find this. The club is responsible for this. Not Vogt or Bremer Weser-Stadion GmbH. Eight million euros have to be paid off gradually, and for Vogt there is no alternative.
Given the financial situation of the club and the city, no one would understand if we were to invest in the stadium on a permanent basis. We need the money elsewhere. Therefore, it is an illusion to think that we could manage without a naming rights partner.
(Economics Senator and Supervisory Board Chair Kristina Vogt)
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Sportblitz, August 29, 2024, 6:06 p.m.
