Feyenoord will no longer continue with Feyenoord City, the project to build a new stadium in South Rotterdam, it assures RTV Rijnmond Saturday afternoon. Construction group BAM has informed the parties involved that ‘the conditions for building the stadium have changed extremely’. According to the regional broadcaster, Feyenoord no longer considers it responsible to continue with the long-term stadium project.
A spokesperson for Feyenoord refers RTV Rijnmond on to the words of chairman of the supervisory board Toon van Bodegom, who recently announced that Feyenoord can provide clarity about Feyenoord City in the short term. According to sources consulted by the regional broadcaster, there is already clarity.
Major development around the new Feyenoord stadium. All parties involved have been informed by construction group BAN about the official increased construction price. The club now no longer has faith in the stadium project. See https://t.co/jV94jgW4K8 for the whole story.
— Dennis van Eersel (@DennisVanEersel) Nov 6, 2021
RTV Rijnmond reports that Feyenoord has been in talks with construction partner BAM for a long time to have the new stadium erected for a guaranteed construction price. The amounts and conditions discussed so far have changed considerably. Feyenoord has therefore decided that it is totally unrealistic to continue with the arrival of a new stadium. Due to the immensely increased construction costs, it seemed to be going this way with Feyenoord City at the end of October.
During the talks in October, it would have become apparent that new conditions had been added. Conditions that Feyenoord could not and would not meet. As a result, the costs for the project would increase enormously. RTV Rijnmond says, according to well-informed sources, that this has to do with a change of course at BAM and raw material prices.
Within Feyenoord, Stadium Feijenoord and the Foundation for Area Development on the Maas there is outrage towards BAM. From the summer of 2019, talks have been held with the construction group. During that process, it would not have been indicated earlier that the desired construction price of Feyenoord is unfeasible, according to RTV Rijnmond.
According to the regional broadcaster, Feyenoord is now entering a phase of ‘picking up shards and continuing’ because Feijenoord Stadium will go bankrupt. The failure of this stadium plan will cost the club itself approximately 2.8 million euros. Feyenoord will look at how it can take over the debts and ownership of Stadion Feijenoord. Only then is it possible to look at renovation and alternative plans that are available.
For more than ten years there has been talk of a new stadium or renovation of the current Kuip. Several plans fell through before the finish line. Feyenoord’s supporters are strongly divided about the plans for the new Feyenoord City stadium complex. The plans are seen by some as a necessary step for the Rotterdam club, while opponents are afraid that the club will deteriorate with an too expensive stadium. General director Mark Koevermans and architect Ard Buijsen, who are supporters of Feyenoord City, were even threatened.