Danish Superliga club FC København (FCK) has announced that construction work has commenced on restoring the full fan experience at its Parken stadium.
The coordinated jumping of fans in Parken’s B stand had been a feature of FCK and Denmark games up until early 2023, when this practice was banned amid structural concerns. FCK initially took action in March 2023 following the findings of an investigation carried out by architecture, engineering and consultancy company Rambøll.
On the basis of the investigation, Parken management requested an end to coordinated jumping in the B stand for FCK matches, with the Danish Football Union (DBU) also falling in line with this recommendation.
The extensive process to determine the solution to the problem has now reached its final phase, with the B stand to be adapted and reinforced over the coming months with the goal of work being complete for final regulatory approval at the end of May.
Following a tender process, FCK has appointed Langkjær Staalbyg for the project, with the construction and civil engineering company having started digging around the B stand in preparation for its foundations to be reinforced and the loading capacity increased. Rambøll will oversee the project.
A special stop and go agreement has been entered into with scheduled breaks over the next four months. The breaks will allow the B stand to continue to operate on match days.
FCK director, Jacob Lauesen, said: “We are very satisfied that we have succeeded in preparing a construction plan that works around the match schedule for both FC København and the men’s national team.
“It has been a high priority for us that the fans are not disturbed by the extensive construction work, and we are very pleased that Langkjær can accommodate this wish.”
Construction work is expected to be completed in early summer, after which the B stand must be approved by the relevant authorities. Lower B is expected to be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season, with work then to commence on Upper B.
Lauesen added to TV2: “This renovation costs a fairly large double-digit million sum. But the way you are a fan today has changed compared to when Parken was built (in 1992). We have to adapt to that, even though it takes time and costs money.”
Facial recognition tech inbound
In other news, FCK has announced that the Danish Data Protection Authority has approved the club’s application for the use of automatic facial recognition technology.
The permit applies to the team’s home and away matches, with FCK expecting the system to be put into use as early as the upcoming spring season.
The club said: “FC København has invested in the necessary technology for facial recognition during 2023-24. This is due to a desire to add another tool to the initiatives to maintain peace and order in the stadium.
“The introduction of facial recognition improves the ability to assign and enforce quarantines at both home and away venues.”
The gradual rollout in Parken will start with the first match of the spring season, and the system is expected to be fully phased in by the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
