Featured image credit: VfL Bochum
German Bundesliga football club VfL Bochum has expressed its commitment to staying at the Ruhrstadion and outlined plans to modernise the venue, with expansion deemed infeasible.
The Ruhrstadion has served as Bochum’s home venue since 1938 and underwent a major rebuild in the late 1970s. Its current capacity is around 26,000.
There have been suggestions that Bochum would seek to move to a new stadium but the club has stressed that playing at the Ruhrstadion has “never been an issue”.
Bochum issued a statement yesterday (Wednesday) in response to “intensive public discussion” surrounding the future of the Ruhrstadion. The club said it has no plans to take part in discussions regarding a potential stadium move and is focused on converting the Ruhrstadion for future use.
After considering construction and planning issues, Bochum has deemed it impossible to expand the capacity of the stadium beyond 27,500. Technical repairs and general modernisation of the venue will be possible, however.
The club is also seeking advice on ways to improve areas of the stadium that are no longer usable, both in general admission areas and VIP suites, with the City of Bochum to assume responsibility for these repairs. A more concrete plan for stadium improvements is set to be announced by the club in the first quarter of 2024.
Bochum finished 14th in the Bundesliga last season and currently occupies the same spot 12 games into the 2023-24 campaign. The club returned to the top flight in 2021 after an 11-year absence.
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