Wuppertaler SV will play the first six to eight home games of the coming season at rival SSVg Velbert. Friedhelm Runge also had a big part in this.
The stadium at the zoo continues to be a construction site. The home ground of Wuppertaler SV is being renovated and will get, among other things, a completely new pitch including drainage. In addition, the toilets are being renovated and preparations are being made for a pitch heating system. In addition, there are further discussions with the city to make the stadium “suitable for the third division”, as Sven Steup explained at a press conference.
The new head of the office emphasised that the renovation was right on schedule. “Everything is running like clockwork. They are completely on target and we don’t need to worry at the moment.” Nevertheless, WSV will have to play the first six to eight home games in another stadium.
After a long wait, the alternative venue for the red and blue has now been decided. Sporting director Gaetano Manno had already emphasised that the Wuppertal team wanted to move to Velbert. This wish has now been fulfilled.
WSV moves to the IMS Arena
On Wednesday, the Wuppertal club received the necessary confirmation from the association to play in the IMS Arena of SSVg Velbert. “The federation also put us on the rack a little bit there,” explained the new office manager.
“It’s easier to get to because of the proximity,” Steup compared the location to the previous alternative stadium in Oberhausen. He added that this has great advantages not only for the team but also for the fans and sponsors.
Daniel Grebe, Head of Sales and Marketing, explained: “On a friendly basis, everyone agreed to keep the expense in Oberhausen as low as possible for us. We then presented our sponsors in the best possible way, but we couldn’t present it the way it is here in the stadium.” In Velbert, on the other hand, there would be a completely different connection to Wuppertal. “That allows us to communicate and map the sponsors in Velbert in a completely different way in terms of visibility and catchment area.”
In addition to RWO, SSVg Velbert, the city of Velbert and the Sport- und Bäderamt, Steup directed a “very special thank you” to WSV main sponsor Friedhelm Runge: “He has ensured in several discussions with Velbert city leaders that the Velbert venue can be made possible at all.” The company EMKA, of which Runge is managing director, has its headquarters in Velbert.
No high-risk matches in Velbert
Steup clarified: “High-risk matches will only take place in Wuppertal again.” This has been agreed with the association and will be taken into account in the match schedule. In the coming days and weeks, final details will be clarified in further meetings.
The WSV has to pay a higher fee for the use of the facility than is due in Wuppertal. “That was also a bit of the sticking point as to why the games were played in Oberhausen last season,” the office manager classified. But also thanks to Runge, they had “worked together constructively in talks with the city of Velbert, so that it can be realised after all.”
Season ticket sales, jersey sponsor, family day
In the course of the announcement, Grebe also announced that there would soon be a new jersey sponsor. Steup also announced the start of season ticket sales tomorrow, Friday.
In addition, there will be a season opening on 23 July under the motto “WSV Family Day”. Although the first team will not be in action on this day, it will be integrated into the activities. On the sporting front, there will be an U19 match against VfB Hilden (11 a.m.) and a women’s test against Borussia Dortmund (3 p.m.).