During the general assembly of 1. FC Union, the club announced ambitious plans for the future of the An der Alten Försterei stadium. AF Projekt GmbH has completed the design work for the stadium renovation.

Ambitious project

The planning work, which cost €15 million, has been completed. A ten-minute video presentation gave the first virtual tour of the new An der Alten Försterei stadium. The stadium’s capacity is set to increase to 40,500 seats. The main stand will be expanded to include an additional VIP area and media zone, while the three standing terraces will be replaced with two-tier seated stands.

Since the beginning of 2023, redevelopment work has been underway on the club's grounds. One of two new grass pitches has already been completed. Next year, a functional building for the men's and women's teams, including offices and lounges, will also be constructed. Construction work on the stadium itself will begin only after the completion of the Alte Försterei Training Center. The club management estimates the work will start in the summer of 2026. During the renovation, Union plans to temporarily move to the Olympiastadion.

© 1. FC Union Berlin

€500 to become a co-owner

The renovation will be primarily funded from the club’s own resources. We are building for the next generation, said club president Dirk Zingler with pride. He presented almost 1,300 voting members with a new edition of the Alte Försterei shares. This means members can purchase shares in Stadionbetriebs AG and become partial owners of the stadium. One share will cost €500, and each member can buy a maximum of 10 shares. In 2011, Union already issued shares for the development of Alte Försterei, with over 5,000 members contributing a substantial sum to support the construction of the main stand. Starting in December, 120,000 shares will be available, allowing 1. FC Union to raise around €60 million for the stadium expansion. While this amount may not be sufficient for such an ambitious project, Union has adequate credit capacity and financial strength, so funding this modernization should not pose a significant challenge.

© 1. FC Union Berlin