Overview

• The city’s development and transport departments approved Union Berlin’s proposal to initially operate the rebuilt stadium at 34,500 seats and validated the required access concept.
• The decision follows the transport administration’s September 19 rejection of a shuttle-bus plan to Karlshorst and Schöneweide and enables the Bebauungsplan to advance to its next stage.
• Officials stated the long-term objective remains a 40,500-seat capacity, with discussions continuing to realize that target in a later phase.
• Club president Dirk Zingler said the temporary capacity reduction is painful but necessary to keep construction on track and preserve competitiveness.
• Union aims to start construction next summer, relocate to the Olympiastadion at the end of 2026, and complete the project with a return in 2027.