Corona not only caused 1. FC Union e.V. to make a big loss. Stadionbetriebs AG, which has economic and personnel ties with the club, was also directly affected.
At the end of 2011, fans and sponsors of 1. FC Union Berlin were able to purchase jewellery shares at a price of 500 euros each and thus participate in the financing of the main stand at the stadium An der Alten Försterei, which was built in 2013. More than 2.7 million euros were raised at the time. Since then, there has been an annual “shareholders’ meeting”, officially called the ordinary general meeting of “An der Alten Försterei” Stadionbetriebs AG. On Thursday evening, this took place for the tenth time. The original date of the shareholders’ meeting on 29 November 2021 could not be kept because of the pandemic situation.
Loss of earnings even alongside sporting operations
Between 40 and 50 stadium shareholders were on hand in the VIP area of the stadium. Through them, as well as proxies and shareholders, up to 7,166 votes were represented at the peak. The actual figures for the financial year from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 had been negatively affected by the Corona pandemic. Due to the many ghost matches, there was hardly any spectator income for the stadium’s main tenant, 1. FC Union. Third-party events such as company parties or private celebrations also remained very rare.
For the second time in a row, there was therefore a negative operating result, also because the club’s annual rent was reduced by 1.5 million euros. However, the AG got by without any liquidity threat because, on the one hand, a loan of 2.5 million euros was taken out in August 2020 and, on the other hand, short-time allowance was granted.
Deficit doubles
However, a deficit of 1.534 million euros remained. This is added to the previous balance sheet loss of 1.516 million euros. It now amounts to 3.051 million euros. In the current business year 2021/22, on the other hand, the AG wants to generate a plus of 40,000 euros.
Most of those present were mainly interested in the stadium issue. In June 2017, Union had presented plans to expand the Alte Försterei from 22,000 to 37,000 visitors. Everything should be ready in 2020 at a price of around 38 million euros – including the clubhouse. But so far there is not even a building permit, because in recent years, among other things, the traffic concept had to be tweaked again and again.
Traffic concept as a sticking point
Union is fighting on several fronts. On the one hand, not only a tram turnaround is to be built in the area of the previous forest side of the stadium, but also a bypass road. Secondly, the club is planning to increase the temporary usability of the Wuhlheide S-Bahn station for arrival and departure traffic on match days. The station in front of Köpenick S-Bahn station could become strategically important, especially during the phase of the conversion of Köpenick S-Bahn station into a regional station.
“The main issue here is to plausibly present the mainly pedestrian access from Wuhlheide station to the stadium,” said Dirk Thieme, CEO of Stadionbetriebs AG. Union also needs to create parking facilities for arriving guest buses and parking spaces for 4,600 bicycles, Thieme said. The club also wants to rebuild the training pitches for the professionals.
Other building projects already on the way
Building is already underway in Köpenick within sight of the stadium. Work has begun on the inconspicuous Pyramidenbrücke bridge between the Alte Försterei and the nearby petrol station and is expected to take an incredible seven (!) years. During this time, one of Köpenick’s main arteries will often only be open to traffic on one lane. In the direction of the old town, it has been since Monday. This will not ease traffic congestion.
Nevertheless, Union continues to believe that building permission will be granted this year. “As things stand, we are planning to publish our plans and the overall financing at an event this summer,” said Thieme. There was a new election on the supervisory board towards the end of the approximately 80-minute general meeting of Stadionbetriebs AG. Katja Jösting will take the place of long-time supervisory board chairwoman Dagmar Wildebrandt, who passed away in July 2021. The 41-year-old has been a Union supporter since 2013.
