Opening 2026

Why the new storm jewel will take time

This is what Sturm's new training center in Graz-Puntigam could look like.(Bild: SKSturm)

Good things take time! But now Sturm's new training center is finally picking up speed. It will cost around 12.5 million euros, with 3.1 million coming from the city and 4.8 million from the state, and now a partner is set to contribute part of the remaining funding. Who is this partner?

The site in Graz-Puntigam, where golfers used to swing their clubs, has long since been identified. It covers three hectares with three soccer pitches. "There will be two pitches with natural grass and one with artificial turf," says Thomas Tebbich, "the building will have an area of 1,000 square meters."

Still dreams of the future, now the financing has to be finalized. 4.6 million is still outstanding, part of which is to be provided by a partner. "It's a large Styrian company, but we won't reveal any more than that," says Sturm's Managing Director of Business. Discussions with the partner have of course been ongoing for a long time, as the club was already on the lookout for a new partner before the city's funding commitment. 

However, it will still be a while before the excavators can move in, with a lot of paperwork to be completed in the coming months. "We want to take the momentum from politics with us now, but it will take time. The plans have to be drawn up, building permits submitted and the like. It's difficult to estimate when we can get started. Hopefully we can start by winter at the latest."

New central warehouse
The new center for the black-and-white ladies and the youngsters will be fully equipped with offices, cabins, a fitness room, a cold pool and everything a footballer's heart desires. But it is not intended as a new home for the Bundesliga ladies. "We are in talks with the GSC, we would like to have the Gruabn as a permanent venue for the women's home games," reports Tebbich, who also wants to house a central warehouse in the second Sturm home. "We've grown massively and now have three stores. We would urgently need that for our merchandising articles." The managing director still has to be patient; the new gem will only be completed in around two years' time.