Germany: Consultation process on Max-Morlock-Stadion redevelopment completed

08.12.2023 10:24 source: StadiumDB.com; author: Mateusz Osmola

German 2. Bundesliga football club FC Nürnberg and the municipality of Nürnberg have launched a public consultation process on the proposed redevelopment of Max-Morlock-Stadion The aim is to make the venue the most inclusive stadium in Germany.

Max-Morlock-Stadion to be upgraded?

The consultation process began in late October with an open day at the stadium and ran until 19 November. In July, FCN and the city presented a feasibility study for the redevelopment of Max-Morlock-Stadion, recommending the elimination of the current athletics track as part of an upgrade worth up to €200 million that would aim to preserve the octagonal design and other historic elements.

PROPROJEKT, a consultancy for the construction sector, has been appointed by the city to conduct a feasibility study for the redevelopment of Max-Morlock-Stadion in November 2022. The venue has a capacity of 50,000 and was opened in 1928. In January 2022, plans were announced to investigate a potential redevelopment of the stadium, which was last renovated 30 years ago.

Most of the stand structures date from the late 1980s and are now thought to be in need of refurbishment. This, along with outdated stadium technology, means that the city currently has to spend around €2.5 million per year to maintain the current state of the stadium. The feasibility study recommended further development of the whole area, as well as converting the stadium into a football-specific facility.

Stakeholders in the project said that Volkspark Dutzendteich, where the stadium is located, would be treated with 'care and respect' during any redevelopment.

These actions are indeed very much necessary. Both management and community have been familiar with the issues for a long time. However, everyone identified how serious the need to renovate the stadium actually was, when Nuremberg failed to be selected as a host city for UEFA Euro 2024. Germany is staging the tournament next year and over 20 million tickets are already booked. Spanning across ten stadiums, the matches will be enjoyed by many millions of spectators. Unfortunately, not on Max-Morlock-Stadion and Nuremberg will be limited to home watching and sports bars. Online you can follow all the matches, predictions, and outcomes through SchweizerSportwetten.com.

FC Nürnberg venue to be the most inclusive in Germany

Speaking to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Niels Rossow, commercial director of FC Nürnberg explained how, in the future, wheelchair users will have dedicated facilities in every stand, not just in one part of the stadium. We are aiming for the most inclusion-friendly stadium in this republic, he said.

Efforts will also be made to rank the penultimate FC Nürnberg in the 2.Bundesliga in terms of VIP and visitor seating. The capacity of Max-Morlock-Stadion is expected to be reduced to 45,000, but the number of guest seats will increase from 1,300 to around 4,000. The stadium should no longer only be relevant on 17 (home game) days, but on 365 days a year - Rossow added.

Feedback from the consultation phase will be assessed and then presented to the city council in spring 2024. Officials hope to start work on the project in 2026, with completion expected in 2030.