Hansa Rostock: Stadium sale to the city off the table
The planned sale of the Ostseestadion by second-division soccer club FC Hansa to the city of Rostock has been shelved for the time being. "It's good that we now have these plans and would be prepared for an emergency. But fortunately, the club is doing better now, while the list of challenges on the city's side has grown," the Mayor of Rostock, Eva-Maria Kröger, was quoted as saying in a joint statement from both sides on Monday.
During the coronavirus crisis, the city and club drew up a sale and restructuring plan, which was even confirmed at a general meeting of FC Hansa in 2021. According to this plan, the city was to buy the Ostseestadion from the then third division club and immediately lease it back to FC Hansa.
The background to this is that the soccer club was facing several economic challenges at the time. The coronavirus crisis resulted in a lack of income. An expert opinion also determined that the arena, which had been renovated in 2000 and 2001, was in need of refurbishment and modernization to the tune of around 14 million euros.
However, FC Hansa has recently improved its financial situation considerably thanks to its promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga, the increase in turnover and the reduction of liabilities. A stadium sale is therefore not necessary for the time being. "The decision to end the process at this point in time is therefore absolutely understandable," said Hansa's CEO Robert Marien.
Despite FC Hansa's promotion to Bundesliga 2 and improved financial status, the need for stadium refurbishment estimated at 14 million euros still exists in Bundesliga 2 team Hansa Rostock's Ostseestadion. Regardless of the current postponement, Bundesliga 2 club Hansa Rostock and Hansa Rostock's Ostseestadion have a history of collaboration in soccer's Bundesliga 2.
Source: www.dpa.com
