The football chapter is closed – Dresden

Ralf Minge has been manager of the Sportpark Ostra since April 1st, which is why the new Heinz Steyer Stadium is also part of his area of ​​responsibility. How excited are you about the arena finally opening?

It is just as huge as the tension and excitement. After all, many months have passed since the city council decision, the planning and finally the construction. But it was worth it, the stadium has turned out really beautiful. I hope that many Dresden residents will take advantage of the open day on August 31st to get to know it.

How did you become involved?

There was an advertisement for the newly created position and I applied. After decades in the football business, which isn’t getting any easier anyway, I wanted to do something different in my home town and not travel 150,000 kilometers a year. The football chapter is closed.

What is different about the new job?

A lot of office, a lot of desk, a lot of computers. But the project appealed to me. There is more to happen in Ostra Park – for example, an Ostra Lake is planned. Helping to design this is an exciting task. I can also get involved as a relatively well-known person and promote the stadium better than perhaps many others.

At the last horse racing day, for example, there was the prize for the new Heinz Steyer Stadium. How was it?

The atmosphere at the race track is of course wonderful and you have the opportunity to relax as well as have interesting conversations. The last time I was at the track was for a Dynamo race day in the 1990s. It should be revived.

Speaking of which: What does the Dynamo idol say about his hometown club?

Two years were wasted and the homegrown players were not given enough chances. Heiko Scholz told me a year and a half ago that Tony Menzel was the biggest talent the club has had for a long time. Now he can finally show it and with several other Dresden players in the team, there is something like the right atmosphere again.

Are you always there live?

Never. I have to have constant conversations and hardly see anything of the game. It’s more relaxing at home in front of the TV.