Potsdam is fighting for a sports field: the future of Lokomotive Potsdam is in the balance!

Potsdam is fighting for a sports field: the future of Lokomotive Potsdam is in the balance!

In Potsdam, a decisive turn is taking place in the future of the sports grounds of the railway sports club “Lokomotive Potsdam” (LOK) e. V. on. As Cityreport reports, the state capital is tirelessly committed to the long-term security of the facility. The city intends to acquire the property in order to make it available to club members as well as for school and recreational sports. An additional public riverside path should also be secured, which will certainly increase the attractiveness of the area.

A meeting between representatives of the city and the association on the site served to clarify the next steps. Mayor Burkhard Exner emphasized the goal of securing the area at Tiefen See for sporting activities. The city has already declared its interest in buying to the federal government and is sticking with it, but is asking for support for a direct purchase at a fair price.

Legal dispute and partial successes

Despite these positive developments, the existential fear for the club remains noticeable. According to lok-potsdam.de, the ESV Lok Potsdam achieved partial success in an appeal before the Brandenburg Higher Regional Court when the Federal Republic's lease lawsuit was dismissed as unfounded. But the lease demand from the Federal Railway Assets (BEV) for the years 2019 to 2025, which amounts to a total of 833,000 euros plus interest, remains a major hurdle.

The city is trying to preserve the sports grounds, but so far there has been no final solution. On December 29, 2023, the Potsdam Regional Court decided that the lease claim for 2019 was justified, while the one for 2020 was rejected. The club has also submitted a petition to preserve the site with over 10,000 signatures - a powerful show of support from the community.

Challenges and opportunities

The current legal situation surrounding the property is complex. According to VIBSS, leasehold building law is an alternative that allows clubs to use land in the long term, but is often associated with many bureaucratic hurdles. Complicated contractual conditions and the possibility of early termination by property management companies mean high risks for the club with huge investments in infrastructure. To date, ESV Lok Potsdam has invested over 3.1 million euros in the sports facility, which underlines the importance of its preservation.

However, the city remains committed to dialogue with the relevant authorities. The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag has already decided that BEV properties should be transferred to the BImA, although this will be accompanied by a sales stop until September 30, 2024. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged support for the preservation of the sports grounds, which gives hope for a positive turn in the long fight for the club's existence.

Developments will be closely monitored in the coming months as the club and the city work on a solution that secures the living space for sport and community in Potsdam.