By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 3 – RasenBallsport Leipzig has unveiled plans to increase the capacity of its stadium. Under the plan, the German club’s stadium will be increased 55,000 as the club targets promotion to the Bundesliga’s top tier and, ultimately, qualification for European competition, an ambition of its Red Bull owners.
Currently, the Leipzig-based side competes in second division of the Bundesliga, to which it was promoted following the 2013/2014 season.
“In a few years, we will say the stadium is not big enough for us,” said Ralf Rangnick, the club’s sports director.
The planned expansion would add 10,655 seats to the Red Bull Arena’s current capacity of 44,345. The sports facility in Leipzig was opened in 2004.
The stadium had a record attendance of 42,713 in May 2014 for RB Leipzig’s home match against FC Saarbrucken. In the previous season, the club’s home matches had an average attendance of 16,743 spectators.
Club officials expect that a promotion to the Bundesliga would attract more supporters to the stadium in Leipzig.
Founded only in 2009, the club is an initiative of drinks brand Red Bull who bought the license of fifth division side SSV Markranstädt with the aim of advancing the re-modeled club to the top-flight Bundesliga within ten years.
RB Leipzig’s (the RB doesn’t stand for Red Bull) stadium is the Red Bull Arena and the Red Bull logo is incorporated into the club’s crest.
So far the rise of the club through the German divisions has been faster than expected with three consecutive promotions.
Red Bull have been linked with a possible acquisition of Leeds United, currently playing in the Championship and recently bought by Italian Massimo Cellino, but if RB Leipzig are promoted again this season then focus will likely remain on building the German team into European contenders under the Red Bull brand.
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