Austria: Sturm will play in Champions League in Klagenfurt. Stadium argument in background

29.05.2024 14:00 source: StadiumDB.com; author: Jakub Ducki

In the past season Sturm played against clubs such as Raków Częstochowa, Slovan Bratislava and Lille. In the next season appetites are for Inter Milan, Bayer Leverkusen or Real Madrid. Despite the huge success, the club from Graz will have to travel to the south of Austria. Why?

Never-ending dispute over new stadium

On one side of the conflict stands Sturm Graz and GAK, on the other the delaying and postponing decisions of the city council. Several solutions are on the table: the expansion of Merkur Arena, the construction of a new facility in Graz-Puntigam, or even the construction of two new stadiums for both clubs.

As it turns out, it is likely that the city council will commission two feasibility studies in June or July. Their aim will be to assess and analyse the potential of the projects in terms of objectively and reasonably identifying the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and risks associated with them. These could take more than eight months to complete.

One study will examine the feasibility of a new stadium in Puntigam, which should have a capacity of 10 000 to 15 000 seats. The other will focus on the possible adaptation of the stadium in Liebenau to meet the requirements of the European cups in the future (space for TV broadcasts, expansion of VIP seating) and an increase capacity to 20 000.

More months without decision

One thing is certain - the verdict will not be taken until the end of 2024. The delaying tactics are obvious. If you are not interested, you should say so publicly Sturm Graz president Christian Jauk said bitterly. He added that the club pays €20 million annually and does not ask councillors for reimbursements for free advertising for the city.

Football is an active policy of integration and inclusion. That's why I think it's trashy when poverty is repeatedly pitted against football. Sturm inspires the masses and these people deserve something other than these stalling tactics - The Sturm chairman added.

According to the city's director of construction, in the best-case scenario, it would take 53 months from the decision on a specific location or expansion of Liebenau to the realisation of the project. As things stand, Sturm Graz will have to play its Champions League matches in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, some 150 km away.

Graz plays, Klagenfurt gets rich

From the perspective of the Carinthian capital, everything worked out well, even though local Austria finished the league competition in last, sixth place of the championship group of the Austrian Bundesliga. The four Champions League group stage matches will be played at the Wörthersee Arena in Klagenfurt, as Merkur Arena does not meet the requirements for Champions League matches.

The fact that these important matches will be played in our stadium fills me with pride. When there was a request from Sturm Graz for the Champions League group stage matches to be held in Klagenfurt, I immediately convened the Sports Park Presidium. Every effort was made to ensure that these prestigious matches could take place here - City Mayor Christian Scheider said.

Hosting the Champions League group stage matches is not only about football, but also about priceless publicity for the provincial capital. The advertising value for Klagenfurt will be enormous thanks to the TV broadcasts. We can only benefit from this in terms of tourism - added Scheider. The city will also benefit financially, as each match will generate around €2 million.

Tourismus Klagenfurt supports the realisation of this project. It would be a model project bringing the two cities of Graz and Klagenfurt together. The increase in tourism and media coverage would be enormous said TVB board member Adi Kulterer and TVB managing director Helmuth Micheler.

As a big Serie A fan, I would most like to play against Inter Milan - but Real Madrid, Manchester City or Leverkusen would also be excellent rivals. It should be a champion from one of the top four leagues - said 33-year-old team captain Stefan Hierländer, introducing his dream opponent. How far will Sturm Graz go in the Champions League next season?