It is an important step for FC St. Pauli: By the end of 2026, a mega training ground will be built on Kollaustraße in Niendorf with a total of seven sports fields. Necessary to meet the requirements of the DFL for youth academies.
St. Pauli is planning a bright future. But: It’s a future with scratches.
Among other things, the site of the neighboring baseball players (Hamburg Stealers, ETV Knights) is being flattened for the project. They should get a new stadium on Vogt-Kölln-Strasse in Stellingen. At the same time, St. Pauli is clearing its grounds at Brummerskamp in Eidelstedt, which could be used for other clubs.
But: The clubs affected – especially the baseball players – and also district politicians feel they have been informed of the city’s plans too late and are faced with a fait accompli.
Stealers Vice Bastian Düsing: “We were totally surprised by the plans. That came out of nowhere. Changing location is difficult. If we don’t get suitable alternative areas, it will threaten our very existence.”
According to reports, the planned alternative area is actually too small. In addition, the floodlight system required for the license should soon be installed on the existing baseball field. An investment that actually no longer makes any sense.
The politics of sports senator Andy Grote (SPD and St. Pauli member) seems to be more like the motto “First create facts, then negotiate”.
Just last Friday, the Stealers were invited to an information event on Monday. Then they were informed about the decisions. The fact that district office manager Kay Gätgens now says that the clubs “are intensively involved in further planning” sounds rather cynical.
Stealers Vice Düsing: “We have no grudge against FC St. Pauli. On the contrary: We think St. Pauli is cool and are good neighbors. But of course we also have to look after ourselves.”
Even if politicians have made the decision, the unpleasant circumstances will of course remain at FC St. Pauli (President Oke Göttlich: “Thanks also go to the City of Hamburg, the Ministry of the Interior and Sport, which has worked very hard for us”) . But they didn’t really want to go into that when the plans were presented…
Göttlich was pleased: “Something will be created here that will be important for the club for decades to come.” The costs are in the double-digit million range. Göttlich: “We have been working on the financing for seven years. We’ll announce that when we’re done.”
