Suche
Mein Konto
New pitch in the 3rd league: pitch heating ready by the end of July!
Leipzig is improving its stadium with new pitch heating. Project start on June 2nd, completion by the end of July 2025.
New pitch in the 3rd league: pitch heating ready by the end of July!
A lot is happening on the football field in Cologne at the moment, as work on the new playing field has been in full swing since June 2nd. This not only makes the fans happy, but also creates anticipation for the upcoming game. As lok-leipzig.com reports, the old turf is currently being replaced and, at the same time, preparations for the new turf heating are being progressed. The installation of the heating will begin on June 30th and is a crucial step in ensuring a usable area in the future, even in the winter months.
The project is well on schedule and, according to current plans, should be completed in the week starting July 21st. The total costs amount to around 700,000 euros, and the total investment in this third division project is just under one million euros. Particularly pleasing: Various companies are working on the project, including Muldentaler Bauunion GmbH, Rasenplan GmbH, Söhner Rasenpflege und Landschaftsbau and Novokraft AG from Switzerland. A big thank you also goes to the volunteers and MPN GmbH, who provide active support.
The DFB's requirements also apply to Cologne
The topic of lawn heating is not only becoming more important in Cologne, it is also being discussed on the national football stage. The DFB recently decided on changes to the admission process for the 3rd league. These regulations particularly affect the requirements for lawn heating and floodlight systems, which will come into force from the 2024/2025 season. Third division teams must either install lawn heating or provide covered stadiums for the winter months, as can be read on dfb.de.
Promoters from the regional league who do not have pitch heating must also name an alternative stadium suitable for the third division. If an alternative stadium is used, there is a risk of financial losses from central TV marketing. Anyone who cannot provide evidence of lawn heating or roofing by November 15th will have to expect drastic cuts of up to 100 percent in TV funding in the second year.
A look at the neighboring country
The need for lawn heating is also viewed critically in the sports environment. In Ulm, for example, SSV Ulm 1846 is currently playing football in an alternative stadium due to a lack of pitch heating, which not only affects the home game but also leads to financial losses. The DFB sees the need for uniform rules regarding pitch heating in order to minimize game cancellations caused by weather, as tagesschau.de reports.
People there are concerned about the high investment of 1.4 million euros for lawn heating, which is to be provided by the city of Ulm. Its finance mayor described these costs as a “most pointless investment”, especially in view of the climate crisis and the comparatively questionable criticism of the DFB guidelines. In fact, it appears that the renovation of stadiums has led to a heated discussion about the necessity and efficiency of these investments.
The completion of the lawn heating is already on the agenda for Cologne for the week starting July 21st. The football location Cologne shows that it has a good hand even in challenging sporting times and focuses on sustainability - in line with the new DFB guidelines.