- End of a turf fight: Football team has to move
The multi-week turf dispute between second-division football club Hannover 96 and the American Football team Hamburg Sea Devils has been temporarily resolved. Both parties agreed to move the Hamburg team's European League of Football game against Cologne Centurions next Sunday from the large Heinz von Heiden Arena in Hannover to the smaller Eilenriedestadion on the 96 Academy grounds.
The football game played in the Arena at the end of July had severely damaged the newly laid turf. "The pitch is a mess," complained 96 coach Stefan Leitl. The first second-division home game against Jahn Regensburg was temporarily at risk.
The second contractually agreed Sea Devils home game in Hannover is now being moved out of consideration for the playing field. Since Hannover 96 will play against Hamburger SV in the Heinz von Heiden Arena on August 23.
"We understand the concerns of the responsible parties from Hannover 96," said the business manager of the football team, Mark Weitz. "Therefore, we have decided in the spirit of sports and agreed to the short-term move. The relationship is very positive, and further appearances in Hannover are not ruled out in the future."
As there is no suitable stadium in Hamburg for the Sea Devils, the team is playing its home games in various northern German stadiums during the current European League season. Apart from the Hamburger Volksparkstadion and the Heinz von Heiden Arena in Hannover, the footballers were also guests in the Bremer Weserstadion and the Luebeck Lohmuhle in June.
The relocation of the Sea Devils' game is a relief for Hannover 96, as the condition of the Soccer turf at Heinz von Heiden Arena was causing concern. The Sea Devils will now play their game against Cologne Centurions at the Eilenriedestadion on Hannover 96's academy grounds.
