VfB Stuttgart supporters could now enjoy a special campaign. A total of 500 folding seats from the former Neckar Stadium were distributed to those interested in the official fan clubs.
These seats were removed from the corner areas as part of the renovation phase of the Mercedes-Benz Arena from 2009 to 2011. At that time, the Turnverein Cannstatt (TVC) secured part of the folding seats, which were then installed in the TVC stadium for the 2010 European baseball championship. This is where the Stuttgart Reds play their home games in the 1st Bundesliga South.
Now the folding seats have to give way to a stadium renovation in their second home as well, which is why the decision was made to hand over the seats to their “original owners in a figurative sense”, as VfB explains. Therefore, with the help of VfB, the seats were brokered to many interested parties from its Official Fan Club (OFC). According to the association, the demand from the white and red supporters was so great that the quota of the rare folding seats of more than 500 pieces “quickly” ran out.
The interest in the campaign also went beyond the state borders of Baden-Württemberg. For example, the Rauhe Ebrach fan club from Upper Franconia near Bamberg took the more than 200 kilometers of the journey to pick up twelve seats in a fire engine that had been converted into a VfB fan bus.
According to the association, the proceeds from the campaign will benefit the Reds’ youth work in building their new baseball academy. VfB fan representative Christian Schmidt says: “It is a great thing that the former seats from the Neckarstadion are back to the VfB fans. We are pleased that we were able to make the TVC, the youth work of the Stuttgart Reds and our OFCs happy through our mediation. Thanks to everyone involved. “(Stadionwelt, June 16, 2021)
You can find photos of the Mercedes-Benz-Arena here.
