Offenbacher Kickers check stadium request in Aschaffenburg – relocation is out of the question!

Offenbacher Kickers check stadium request in Aschaffenburg – relocation is out of the question!

The Offenbacher Kickers recently caused a stir when they made a request to Aschaffenburg to use the stadium at Schönbusch. As hessenschau.de reports, these are considerations that go beyond the current rental agreement for the stadium on Bieberer Berg. While the city of Aschaffenburg confirmed the request, it also made it clear that long-term use was not feasible for personnel and organizational reasons.

OFC President Joachim Wagner emphasizes that the club has no plans to leave Bieberer Berg. According to Wagner, Bieberer Berg should continue to be the Kickers' home venue. Currently, the official leases run until 2027 and the club has no plans to change location in the short term.

Economic framework conditions in focus

For the Offenbacher Kickers, the request is primarily a review of the economic framework, as managing director Florian Holzbrecher explained. The aim is to obtain comparable offers in order to be well prepared to begin negotiations with the current stadium operator. Around 345,000 euros in stadium rents are currently under discussion, which had a significant impact on the club's financial situation, especially during the corona pandemic, as rent payments were deferred at the time.

The Kickers pay over 200,000 euros in rent annually, including the maintenance of the training pitches. Wooden houses also represent serious income potential for the club. However, as can be read on kicker.de, it is unclear how fans and long-term tenants of the VIP areas would react to a potential move. The Kickers currently have the fifth best number in the fourth league with an average attendance of 6,218 fans per game.

Funding opportunities and infrastructure

Given the financial burden, applying for funding could also be an issue for the Kickers. Football clubs in Germany can apply for support for infrastructure and digitalization measures, although the funding situation often varies from state to state, as sportplatzwelt.de explains. An important aspect for clubs is to clarify who the owner of the sports facilities is and what rights result from lease agreements.

The distributions could help to boost the club's finances, especially in times when rent amounts and maintenance costs are oppressive. While the Kickers continue to target Bieberer Berg as their central location, the option of moving to Aschaffenburg remains open but not specified.

So we can be curious to see how the situation develops and whether the club takes new approaches with regard to its home games.