April 28 – Feyenoord have dropped plans to build a new stadium on the banks of the Meuse over spiralling costs.
For years, the Dutch club has developed and re-developed plans to construct a new state-of-the-art and leave its historic De Kuip stadium, which remains the beating heart of the club and is beloved by the fans.
“It just isn’t possible, it just isn’t possible,” said Dennis te Kloese, Feyenoord’s CEO.
“We are a football club and we are now going to focus on football again. I think things could be better in the current Kuip. Let’s take a good look at that. De Kuip can of course be modernised. We wanted a new stadium. But it’s really not feasible. We will continue to play in De Kuip for the time being. That should remain a good experience for everyone. But also large-scale renovation is not possible.”
Feyenoord then will remain at De Kuip for the foreseeable and the club has discarded plans to renovate the current ground, which was built in 1937. Te Kloese said Feyenoord lacked financial resources and that the price of building materials had “gone through the roof. Mortgage interest rates are also shooting up.”
Feyenoord envisaged the new stadium as an avenue to bridge the gap with leading Dutch clubs Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven. In 2016, the club unveiled plans for ‘Feyenoord City’, a new stadium, on the banks of the river Meuse with a capacity of 63,000 as a part of a larger redevelopment with hotels, parking lots, shops and bars The estimated cost of ‘Feyenoord City’ was between €1-1.5 billion.
“Success on the field is the basis for financial success,” said Feyenoord financial director Pieter Smorenburg. “We are going far in the European competition and that brings better transfer results.”
On Thursday, Feyenoord will take on Olympique Marseille in the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League. Tickets for the first leg at the De Kuip sold out in 30 minutes. The Dutch club last played a European club final in 2002 when Pierre Van Hooijdonk lead the Dutch to a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the final of the UEFA Cup.
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