The latest Swiss stadium will be built just meters away from the border with Germany. Great location helped lure commercial partners and will allow getting by with entirely private funding.

Though plans for a new stadium in Schaffhausen had been circulating for several years, it wasn’t until Sept 30, 2014 that FC Schaffhausen president Aniello Fontana and Gallus Immobilien AG bought the 33,000 sqm of land in the industrial district.

The land is very well located, lying near a major road connection between Switzerland and Germany (the stadium only 300m from Germany itself) and with comfortable access for public transport. Simple prefab stands will hold 8,200 people and be build along the south-west north-east axis due to land location. The north-western main grandstand will be the smallest one, because it’s planned to be incorporated into a major commercial building.

Of the €41 million planned for the project, vast majority will finance the commercial side. This part will incorporate a shopping centre (naming rights holder Lipo and Lidl as key tenants), conference centre and offices. The entire project will be financed privately, unless residents agree upon a municipal contribution of under €1.7m.

Construction is to begin in October 2014, while delivery of the commercial part is planned for April 2016. Sports facilities may be handed over slightly later, after the season ends.