Preußenstadion – design description

What does Preußenstadion look like?

Preußenstadion was opened in 1926 and was considered one of the most modern in Germany at the time. The facility suffered heavily during World War II. After it was rebuilt, it could hold up to 40,000 spectators, although capacity was later gradually reduced.

The stadium is used by the football club Preußen Münster. The club was founded in 1906 and was one of the founders of the Bundesliga in 1963, but the 1963/64 season was the only one so far in which the team from Münster played in the Bundesliga. In 2024, the team was promoted to the 2. Bundesliga, returning to the second division for the first time since 1991.

What is the history behind the plans to redevelop Preußenstadion?

When did the first concrete plans to build a new stadium for Preußen Münster emerge?

In the 1990s, there were advanced plans to replace the old Preußenstadion with a new, football-specific venue. The facility was to be built in the same location, along with a shopping center, as part of an agreement between the city and a private investor.

The project aroused dissatisfaction among local merchants, and the initiative was ultimately scuppered by a lawsuit brought by a local resident, as the plan did not include sufficient measures to counteract the negative effects of increased traffic and excessive noise.

What upgrades have been made to Preußenstadion in the 21st century?

Instead of building a new stadium, the Preußenstadion was modernized in 2008-2009: a new main stand was built from scratch and the auditorium on the opposite side was covered. By 2012, a new scoreboard, new floodlights and heated turf were also installed.

How were plans shaping up for the future of the stadium for Preußen Münster?

In the following years, further renovations were planned for Preußenstadion. First, a new stand behind the west goal was to be built. At the end of 2014, a plan was made to completely rebuild the entire stadium.

However, the plans were not put into action, and in October 2016 the club began to consider building a new stadium in another location. The stadium was to hold 40,000 spectators and cost €80 million. Initially, the facility was to stand near the airport, which, however, is located quite far from the city, so these plans were eventually abandoned.

The next place where the new stadium was to be built was the site on Nieberdingerstraße, later the city suggested 24 different locations to the club, and in 2018 the team considered a site in the town of Senden, located several kilometers away.

When was the plan to redevelop Preußenstadion conceived?

At the end of 2018, plans to build a new stadium were withdrawn. On November 23, 2018, the city and the club announced the further modernization of Preußenstadion, and in December 2018 the City Council approved the allocation of €40.25 million for this purpose. The city and the club confirmed the initiative with a letter of intent signed on February 1, 2019. A new youth center was to be part of the project.

In August 2019, the city commissioned a feasibility study, which was handled by the Albert Speer + Partner practice. The results of the study were published in April 2020. A rendering of the reconstructed stadium by Drees & Sommer was also made public on the occasion.

A new, updated feasibility study, prepared by Drees & Sommer, was presented in December 2021, along with new renderings.

What advancements have been made on the redevelopment project for Preußenstadion?

From June to November 2022, a preliminary phase of redevelopment was carried out, which included the demolition of the western curve of the stands.

On November 15, 2022, the City Council approved additional funds for the reconstruction, increasing the city's contribution to €65 million. On April 24, 2024, a further €23 million was voted, bringing the total now to €88 million.

March 2023 saw the premiere of a book written by Carsten Schulte entitled "Das neue Preußenstadion in Münster", dedicated to the long process leading up to the stadium's redevelopment.

On May 18, 2024, Preußen Münster (as a 3. Bundesliga newcomer) secured promotion to the 2. Bundesliga, in which it had not played since 1991. The stadium does not meet all the requirements of that level, but thanks to redevelopment plans, the club was able to obtain a conditional license.

How are plans to rebuild Preußenstadion progressing?

When did the preliminary work on the redevelopment of Preußenstadion begin?

On June 9, 2022, the first shovel was symbolically driven in, symbolically inaugurating the reconstruction of the stadium. In fact, at that time only the demolition of the western curve had begun, and any subsequent work was still in the planning stages.

The demolition of the western stand was completed in late autumn 2022. A temporary acoustic screen was then erected behind the end line of the pitch, on which a video screen was hung, and in the spring of 2023 it was also decorated with images of former club players. The visitors' sector, which was located on the removed curve, was temporarily relocated to the western part of the north stand.

When will the main reconstruction work on Preußenstadion be carried out?

Procedures to select the main contractor for the reconstruction began in spring 2023. The selection of the contractor is expected in the second half of September 2024. The project is to be carried out under the design-build system. The work is to be carried out in stages so that it will still be possible to play matches at the stadium. The reconstruction is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2027.

What are the plans for the redevelopment of Preußenstadion?

How was the scope of the Preußenstadion modernization determined?

The main guidelines for the redevelopment were outlined by the city and the club, after which the concept was further analyzed, detailed and optimized by Albert Speer + Partner (2020) and Drees & Sommer (2021), which produced two feasibility studies.

The results of the studies were made public, and in addition to the usual data, plans and renderings were made available.

The resulting concept is not final and is still subject to change, with some elements of the concept being optional and dependent on available funding. The preparation of full project documentation will be handled by the main contractor, who will perform the work on a design-build basis.

What does the Preußenstadion redevelopment concept entail?

The main idea of the reconstruction is to leave the main (south) stand, opened in 2009, and build new stands on the other three sides. The running track will be removed, with the stands moving closer to the field and creating a football-specific stadium. Corner stands will appear only on the north side, connecting the three new stands. On the south side (on the sides of the main stand) space will be provided for optional corner buildings.

All the stands will be covered, and their capacity is expected to be in the range of 19,000-20,000 spectators (the Drees & Sommer study pegged the figure at 19,400). The stadium will also have nearly 200 spots for wheelchair users. As has been the case so far, the ultras sector will be located on the eastern side, and the visitors' sector will be on the western side (in the southern part of the stand). Both of these sectors will have standing room.

The existing hospitality area in the main stand is to be expanded and improved; additional boxes will also be created on the opposite side, in the new north stand. Kiosks and restrooms will also be built in the new stands.

The stadium will take a compact, enclosed form, which is expected to help reduce the noise getting out of the stadium. Special attention has been paid to this aspect, as noise that exceeded the norms was the cause of capacity constraints at the old stadium, and also led to the failure of the project to build a new stadium at the turn of the 20th century.

The concept also calls for the introduction of a number of pro-economic and pro-environmental solutions, in line with the ideas of sustainable development.

What additional investments are planned for the redevelopment of Preußenstadion?

One of the most important additional developments is to be the creation of a youth training center, which is a requirement for 2. Bundesliga clubs. Changes are to take place throughout the stadium's surroundings and will include the construction of additional facilities, including a club office, as well as the creation of 7,200 bicycle parking spaces.

What are the costs of redeveloping Preußenstadion?

A study prepared by Albert Speer + Partner in 2020 gave cost ranges within which the project should fall: from €37.4 to €47.8 million for the stadium alone, and from €86.8 to €97.2 million for the entire project (the fluctuations were related to various alternatives and optional solutions).

After the councilors allocated additional funds in April 2024, the city's contribution to the stadium redevelopment is now €88 million, and it is likely that the entire investment will have to close in this amount.