In terms of sports, things are not going as desired for 1. FC Bocholt in the Regionalliga West. However, the million-euro infrastructure project is progressing as planned.

1. FC Bocholt makes no secret of the fact that the club’s long-term goal is to reach the third division. However, after 15 match days in the Regionalliga West, they are still some way off that goal. They are eight points behind the leaders and Bocholt is only in ninth place ahead of their home game against FC Schalke’s U23 team (Saturday, 2 p.m.). However, work on the new stands is proceeding according to plan. According to the club, civil engineering work on the new north stand began on Thursday. A seated stand with 1,163 covered seats will be built there. A new south stand will then be built, with 510 covered seats and 1,040 standing places.

The installation of under-soil heating and new turf, as well as new substitutes’ benches, is also planned for summer 2026. Additional infrastructure, such as a police container and mobile catering and toilet facilities, is also to be created by the start of the 2026/2027 season.

All of these are requirements that must be met in order to obtain a license for the 3rd league. The installation of a modern surveillance system and the expansion of the sound system must also be addressed.

Once all these measures have been completed, the stadium will not only have 2,049 covered seats, but will also meet all DFB criteria. A total of 5,994 spectators will then be allowed into the stadium. However, due to the strict requirements for events with more than 5,000 spectators, capacity will initially be limited to 4,999 spectators and will only be fully utilized in exceptional cases.

The people of Bocholt are proud to be able to tackle this project together. Sponsors are helping, and the city has also actively supported the club so far.

The Bocholters announced: “The construction costs for this largest infrastructure project in the club’s recent history amount to over three million euros, which can be financed thanks to the active support of sponsors. The city of Bocholt is supporting the third-division-compatible expansion of the Hünting with a further €2.65 million for the already installed, state-of-the-art floodlight system with 1,200 lux and the turf heating system that will be installed next year.”