Home games are often the key to staying in the league for promoted teams – also in the Regionalliga West. However, the stadiums have to fulfil a number of requirements.
The start of the Regionalliga West is imminent and preparations are in full swing. For the promoted teams, planning began as soon as the season’s goal was reached: security concept, barriers, guest fans – the league’s demands on the stadiums are high. RevierSport asked shortly before the start of the season.
1st FC Bocholt
The Oberliga Niederrhein champions have had to do some work at their home Gigaset Arena to meet the requirements of the regional league: “We had to re-divide the guest area, add toilets and erect barriers,” said Marcus John, sporting director, listing the renovations that have been carried out. “Now we have everything ready. Both club side and volunteers have done a super job.” The acceptance test should take place in the course of this week. “Then we hope to be able to play all home games at our home. “
SG Wattenscheid 09
The second-placed team in the Oberliga Westfalen had an easier time of it. When asked by RevierSport, the club announced via the press office: “The Lohrheidestadion meets all the requirements of the Regionalliga, so it will be available to us as a home ground for the 2022/23 season.” First up will be Wuppertaler SV on the second matchday (31 July, 2pm).
1st FC Kaan-Marienborn
The Oberliga Westfalen champions will not be able to have that pleasure – at least not at home. The game had been classified as “red” along with the matches against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and Alemannia Aachen. “Those are the teams that will bring a lot of fans. We will then have to play these matches in the Leimbachstadion in Siegen,” revealed media officer Stefan Jäkel.
The vast majority of home games, however, could be played in the home Herkules Arena. “We have received the licence from the association without any conditions, but we would still like to expand the stands in the guest block sensibly.” The construction work has not yet begun, but is a project for the coming season. In addition, there are plans to invest in the catering facilities.
1st FC Düren
The champions of the Middle Rhine League had more work to do. The “Westkampfbahn” had caused a real headache for those responsible – RevierSport reported. The main reason was that home and guest fans could not be separated spatially. An application to the city of Düren for a grant of 300,000 euros for the necessary conversion measures had been rejected.
Upon request, the club has now announced: “We are playing on the Westkampfbahn and all construction measures have been completed. The first home match will be a duel for the promoted team: 1. FC Bocholt will be our guests (23 July, 2 p.m.).