Graz โคStadiumโ Plans Advance with potential joint Funding from Sturm โGraz and GAK
Plans for โฃa modernized stadium in graz are โprogressing, with both Sturm Graz and GAK expressingโ willingness to financially contribute to theโค project. This advancement necessitates a re-evaluation of the original planning timeline, โขpushing the planning decision beyond โtheโ initially anticipated autumn timeframe.
Graz Mayor Elke Kahr (KPร) stated, “The city and the two โฃBundesliga clubs are working together constructively on a solutionโข that, on the one hand, meetsโ the requirements ofโ a modern stadium and, conversely, โขis financially realistic.”
The possibilityโค of a “big” stadiumโ solution, previously considered unlikely, is now back on the table. However, the financing and operational structureโ remain key โขhurdles.โ The city is focusing on establishing โ”an operator conceptโฆthat ensures ongoing operations economically and at the same time offers space โขforโฃ active participation by both clubs.”
Accordingโค to the โคCity Councilor for โฃFinance Manfred Eber’s office, both clubs are open โtoโฃ financial participation, and the goal is to finalize a related economic efficiency concept by 2025.
Theโค city and theโ state have each pledged 30 million eurosโ towards โขthe โฃproject, based on a feasibility study estimating the total โคmodernization cost at 150 million โeuros.โ However, technical experts โขinvolved believe a lower overall cost may be achievable.
Sturm Graz President โขChristian Jauk has โproposed a contribution of 30 million euros, contingent upon the club receiving stadiumโ marketingโฃ rights, alongside โcontributions of 40 million euros each from the city and state.โฃ Jauk emphasizedโฃ the broader benefit ofโ the project, stating, “It was not justโฃ aboutโ a solution for Sturm, but for all parties involved. They want to โ’create infrastructure for all football fans’ and SK Sturm will makeโข its contribution to this, ‘provided we get something in return.'” He also stressed โคthe โimportance of a timely decision, stating, “The city has โassuredโ us that the decision about the stadium will not be delayed into the โelection campaign, and we will remind them of thatโฆthe planning decision mustโ necessarily beโค made before the โขend ofโ the year.”
GAKโค also indicated a willingness to participate in a joint funding model. GAK-Chairman Deputy Matthias Dielacher explained, “It is entirely possible to createโ a common construct in which you participate – in whatever relationshipโฆYou โฃalso have to be โฃcareful that two people don’t pay โthe same amount for theโ same right. Theโ common path is probably better.” He added that defining theโข specific rights involved is crucial before finalizingโค any โคagreement.
The city envisionsโ the modernized stadiumโ as “a multifunctionalโ and economically viable stadium that can be โused beyond football operations.”
