Projected Upgrades and Early Disclosure

Plans to renovate the Stadion Liebenau in Graz, Austria, have been prematurely revealed, sparking discontent among political and sporting figures.The official unveiling of the feasibility study is slated for June, but details regarding potential enhancements have already surfaced.

• Capacity Expansion: The stadium is expected to increase to 23,000 seats.
• VIP Area: An enlarged VIP section is planned.
• Press Facilities: A new press area is in the works.
• Sky boxes: Construction of sky boxes is under consideration.

During the construction phase, both SK Sturm and Grazer AK may need to relocate temporarily, potentially to klagenfurt and Hartberg, respectively.

Political Fallout and Financial Concerns

The early disclosure of these plans has upset members of the Graz city government. Karl Rambles, club chief of the Greens, described the situation as shameful. He told 90minuten.at, I am really irritated that it was not possible to hold out the agreed silence for the few weeks. Similarly, Finanzstadt Manfred Eber (KPÖ) expressed feeling bumped into the head by the leaks.

Financing the project remains a significant hurdle. While media reports suggest a total cost of 90 million euros, with contributions from the city, state, and SK Sturm, political representatives have dismissed these figures as speculative. The proposed breakdown includes 40 million euros each from the city and state, and 10 million euros from SK Sturm. A contribution from GAK is not currently anticipated.

Mario Kunasek (FPÖ), from the government office, stated that there have been no concrete discussions about the country’s cost sharing so far.

Timeline and Environmental Considerations

If the feasibility study yields positive results in June, a decision by the local council could occur as early as the summer. Construction could commence in 2026, assuming swift processing. Though, this timeline is contingent on avoiding the need for an environmental impact assessment, which could potentially delay the project by several years.

Looking Ahead

Greens politician dreifner articulated the project’s objective: We will not be able to build a miracle ball, but a stadium where both clubs can play the next 20–25 years without having to switch to Klagenfurt is a realistic goal. Achieving this vision requires collaboration and discretion among all parties involved.

Dreifner emphasized the need for a closed approach between politics, associations and administration – and reliability in dealing with sensitive facts.