Sturm & GAK furious

City councillor: “Clubs should help pay for the stadium”

Opponents on the pitch, but GAK and Sturm are pulling together on the stadium issue in Graz.

(Bild: Pail Sepp)

The next act in the turmoil surrounding the Graz stadium: City Councillor for Finance Manfred Eber (KPÖ) called on the traditional Graz soccer clubs Sturm and GAK to help pay for the renovation of the slightly antiquated Liebenauer Arena via a Facebook post. The clubs are somewhat irritated by this.

The renovation of the now 27-year-old Merkur-Arena is unavoidable - on the one hand to meet UEFA requirements so that Sturm does not have to play its international home games in Klagenfurt, and on the other hand due to GAK's promotion, which currently seems fairly certain. A fact that has long since reached Graz City Hall. The question of financing remains.

And in this regard, the city is apparently getting creative in view of its tight finances. The stadium tenants in black and red are to help pay for the urgently needed investments. "We are of the opinion that the clubs are also responsible for stadium security and should make their financial contribution," posted City Councillor for Finance Manfred Eber (KPÖ) on Facebook.

"Absurd" approach by the city
The clubs are irritated by this, to put it mildly: "This is new for us and absolutely incomprehensible," says GAK vice-chairman Matthias Dielacher, shaking his head. "To reduce the necessary adaptations in the stadium solely to the derby incidents is absurd." Storm's managing director Thomas Tebbich echoes this sentiment. "We are very surprised by this demand. This has never been an issue in any of our previous talks."

Matthias Dielacher, GAK vice-chairman.

(Bild: Jauschowetz Christian)

Eber has not yet been informed of the idea itself or the amount of financial contribution expected. "We are currently evaluating the security concept submitted by Sturm and GAK - together with the building authorities, the police and the stadium administration," says the city council's finance department. The prioritization of those measures that will be implemented by the summer should be completed before Easter. "And then we will also approach the clubs about how they should participate."

The town hall coalition's approach is met with a shake of the head from the political opposition: "At the first security summit after the derby, the city clearly communicated that it would bear the costs for the necessary adaptations. And everyone knows that 90 percent of the damage in the stadium is caused by visiting fans. To now pass this on to the Graz clubs is unacceptable," explains City Councillor for Sport Kurt Hohensinner (ÖVP). KFG club chairman Alexis Pascuttini takes a similar view: "Under no circumstances should the clubs be held financially responsible here, only the vandals have to pay for the damage they have caused."

In any case, there is still no date for the next Graz stadium summit. The city actually wanted to clarify the location issue by the end of February. And the town hall has also yet to provide final clarification regarding the sports conference center.