The home stadium of TSV Hartberg is set to undergo redevelopment in a move that will preserve the club’s status in the top-tier Austrian Bundesliga.
The project is being backed by the City of Hartberg and the state government in Styria. The club’s stadium, Profertil Arena Hartberg, has a capacity of around 5,000 but is deemed to be no longer up to the required standard.
The cost of modernising the stadium is estimated at €11m (£9.2m/$11.6m), of which €9m will be covered by the state government. The project is designed to open up the stadium for more youth sports, with the venue currently used by six local schools.
A building permit for the project is expected to be awarded in January. After all preparatory work and tenders have been completed, the renovation is planned to begin after the 2024-25 season.
TSV Hartberg is currently eighth in the Austrian Bundesliga. The club has played in the top flight since 2018 and finished fifth last season.
Christopher Drexler, Governor of Styria, said: “Major challenges can only be overcome through cooperation and I am therefore pleased that we have found a solution for TSV Hartberg together.
“We all know that the Bundesliga license is crucial: what Hartberg has achieved in sports must not fail because of the stadium infrastructure. TSV Hartberg has proven over the last few years that this team belongs in the Bundesliga. Through continuous work on and off the pitch, they have more than earned this status.”
Mayor of Hartberg Marcus Martschitsch added: “Big thanks to the Governor Christopher Drexler and his deputy Anton Lang and for the great support of our sports councillor Karlheinz Kornhäusl, who have put all their strength into this project. Being able to lead the stadium at the Hartberg campus into the future with a modern infrastructure is very important for Hartberg as a school and sports town.
“A contemporary, sustainable project at the location for sports in the district capital. The licensing requirements of the Bundesliga paired with a modern infrastructure for the entire sports sector in Hartberg. Of course, it is our common aim to give TSV Hartberg a home where the club, team and also the population can feel at home.”
