The domestic Bundesliga is heading for a challenging season with traffic light regulations, upper limits and no guest fans in the stadiums. The clubs need concepts that are tailored to the infrastructure. The upper limit of 10,000 people that will apply from September does not meet with love everywhere. There is also a corona traffic light, the effects of which on the league are completely open. The maximum stadium utilization is already dependent on the assessment of the local authority.
According to CFO Markus Kraetschmer, for Austria this means that from September between 7500 and 8000 spectators are allowed in the Generali Arena (capacity: 17,000). “We can also use it to start subscription sales and give people a certain perspective,” said Kraetschmer. However, the traffic light system announced by politicians to contain the corona virus also has an impact on football. “There are also ideas to what extent we can be influenced by green, yellow, orange phases not only in the game, but also in training,” said Kraetschmer. Many questions remain unanswered, such as whether the stadium gates will automatically close again in the event of a red phase and the clubs will therefore have to pay financially for locked-out subscribers. The same applies to regional differentiations. Kraetschmer: “Does the traffic light apply to all of Vienna or does it apply differently in Vienna-10 than in Vienna-14? And what do we do if the traffic light in Linz looks different the day before we go to Linz?”
Thomas Tebbich, managing director of Sturm Graz, generally advocates nationwide regulations. “There are still a few open construction sites that are not dealt with across Austria. I do not think that is good in principle, because the differences make communication and coordination (within the league) more difficult,” said Tebbich to the Austria Press Agency. A tour of the stadium by the event authority of the city of Graz recently revealed encouraging results. According to Tebbich, like Rapid and Salzburg, Sturm can exhaust the upper limit of 10,000 people (with file, rescue, catering staff etc.) in the Merkur Arena (capacity: 15,750). The people of Graz refer the maximum number recorded to all people in the stadium. “It will then be between 9800 and 9900 spectators,” said Tebbich.
Rapid badly affected
The Rapid ceiling, which will apply from September 1st, will be the hardest hit. It is no secret that the Hütteldorfer, as the league’s crowd puller (season average: 18,700), are not satisfied with the number set by politicians. Managing Director Christoph Peschek formulated the hope for a flexible regulation. Specifically: “A percentage orientation on the respective stadium capacity with appropriate prevention concepts.” The situation will remain unsatisfactory for green and white for the time being, sports minister Werner Kogler (green) recently nailed the brand as an absolute upper limit.
Erich Korherr from TSV-Hartberg, on the other hand, is very satisfied. “In principle, we are allowed to occupy each of our 2500 seats, but with a mask requirement,” said the club boss. “2500 seats instead of a ghost game like zero, which is worth a lot.” In the hope of more spectators, the LASK is considering switching from Pasching to the Gugl. The (organized) fan groups are likely to be locked out by visiting teams. “My assessment is that there will be no away fans by the end of the year,” said Storm Tebbich. “Rapid and we at Sturm are still working in the working groups to ensure that away fans are possible, but the majority are against it.” (What)
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