The owners of 1. FC Union Berlin, which plays in the German Bundesliga, have no intention of backing out of plans to expand their home venue. Alte Försterei modernization project will go ahead, despite the club's unsatisfactory sports record in the current league season and European competition.

Union Berlin's stadium will be modernized

The first plans for a major revamp of Alte Försterei appeared as early as 2017, but the original modernization concept was not implemented. The facility was to, among other things, increase its capacity from the current 22,000 to as many as 37,000 seats. Standing in its way was the issue of solving traffic problems. The area around the arena is already congested during game days, and the planned expansion of the stands would have further increased traffic near the stadium. Thus, a new transportation concept had to be developed, including an increased role for public transportation. Implementation of the plans was also hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

© 1. FC Union Berlin

In the meantime, the Berliners have made considerable sporting progress. They won historic promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019, played in the group stage of the Conference League in 2021, appeared in the group stage of the Europa League the following season, and participated in the group stage of the Champions League in the current campaign. The club regularly sells out tickets at Stadion An der Alten Försterei, which ranks among the smallest in the Bundesliga, so its expansion is a real need. Especially since the home of the Die Eisernen does not meet UEFA's stringent criteria, and for its home matches in the Champions League Union had to move to Olympiastadion.

At the end of 2022, an updated concept for the stadium expansion was presented at the club's general assembly and a new timetable was presented. The facility after the upgrade would hold 37,700 spectators, slightly more than had been expected a few years earlier.

Alte Försterei will grow even bigger

In a recent interview with the club's official TV channel, Union president Dirk Zingler confirmed that plans to renovate the stadium would go ahead regardless of the Berliners' sports performance. "We are building it regardless of current sports events. Every step has always been independent of the current sports situation," - Zingler said. We should add that in the current Bundesliga competition, Union is performing well below expectations. It currently sits in 15th place in the table, with only three points ahead of the relegation zone. In the Champions League, Die Eisernen have not made a splash either, taking the last place in Group C with only 2 points.

© 1. FC Union Berlin

The actual expansion of the Alte Försterei is scheduled to begin in July 2025. As a result, Union plans to move to Olympiastadion in the 2025/26 season. We don't have a stadium suitable for the Bundesliga, we play with a special permit. Our goal is to create a permanent, modern Bundesliga facility in Köpenick, - Zingler said.

The Union CEO plans to invest more than €100 million in upgrading the arena. Compared to previous plans, the facility is to grow even more. There is to be room for several additional rows in all the stands, so that a stadium with a capacity of more than 40,000 spectators will open in Berlin in the 2026/27 season.