TSV 1860 Munich is to pay a significantly higher rent for the stadium on Grünwalder Straße in the future – although the club has long been pushing for a lower fee. Sports mayor Verena Dietl (SPD) and sports consultant Florian Kraus (Greens) explained on Tuesday afternoon that they could not comply with the lions’ wish and that they would even have to do something better in the future. According to a letter from the lions to city officials, they expect the total stadium costs to increase by more than 50 percent, i.e. by a good half a million euros, for the coming season. In addition, there would be a one-time additional payment of 150,000 euros for additional costs.
The framework conditions for the TSV 1860 would be “maximum more difficult”. They take the TSV 1860 Munich crucial “air to breathe,” says the letter from the club. The city even wants to reduce the basic rent because of the dilapidated state of the stadium, but the operating and ancillary costs are raised so much that an overall increase results. This was the result of a calculation by the municipal assessment office. Mayor Dietl informed the club of the result on March 15th. At the end of April, the city council should decide on the new rental conditions.
Dietl wants to invite representatives of TSV 1860 to talks beforehand in order to “look for possible solutions together with the club”. She left it open what these might look like. Sports consultant Kraus also announced support. “Against this background, it will be important to analyze the options for action in the area of income and other expenses of TSV Munich von 1860.”
The club had repeatedly stated that it paid far too high a rent for the stadium compared to its competitors. He had drawn up a list of deficiencies to point out the problems in the Grünwalder. Commercial director Marc-Nicolai Pfeifer spoke of an annual disadvantage of up to 1.7 million euros a year.
The city also promised, at the urging of the lions, to have the rent reviewed and re-established by the assessment office. The result is depressing for the 60s. But the municipality’s hands are tied, explained Dietl and Kraus. “The promotion of professional sport … is not a municipal task,” says the joint statement. Therefore, the city must demand “customary market fees (including operating and ancillary costs)” for its municipal stadium.
The coalition of Greens and SPD supports Dietl and Kraus’ attitude and also promised the association support. “For us, 1860 and the Grünwalder Stadion belong together. Especially in these difficult times, we want to do our utmost to support the club so that it can continue to play successfully in Giesing in the third division,” said the SPD Vice President Group leader Kathrin Abele.
The Green sports expert on the city council, Hermann Brem, brought concrete ideas for such help into play. “For example, with regard to support in the search for sponsors or through business development from the department for work and business.” The naming rights to the stadium could also become an issue again sooner than planned.