FC fans demonstrate loudly: Expand Geißbockheim for our Pänz!”

FC fans demonstrate loudly: Expand Geißbockheim for our Pänz!”

On Sunday, the Heumarkt in Cologne's old town was full of passionate fans of 1. FC Köln. Over 3,000 supporters came together to demonstrate together for the expansion of the Geißbockheim. The motto “Expand Geißbockheim – places for our Pänz” summed up the fans’ central demand. They want approval to modernize the training facility on the Gleueler Wiesen, but the club has been fighting with politicians to implement these plans for more than a decade. Reason enough for the angry supporters to make their voices heard, as Rundschau Online reported.

The event began with a kick-off rally at which high-ranking speakers such as FC President Dr. Werner Wolf and managing director Philipp Türoff discussed the situation. Türoff addressed politicians with clear words and pointed out the blockade that has lasted for over twelve years and is preventing the FC from future-oriented development. He explained that the city was “blocking” the future of the club and called for an end to the standstill in order to give the children in the club a better future. He was supported by fan representative Sebastian Kalker, who targeted the ideological motives of his political opponents and called for an open dialogue.

Current situation and future plans

The relationship between 1. FC Cologne and the city is tense, especially after a previously sought compromise over three satellite pitches at Geißbockheim failed. A development plan for the Gleueler Wiesen was approved by the city council, but implementation has stalled due to environmental concerns. Mayor Henriette Reker is strongly committed to protecting green spaces, which has significantly complicated the political negotiations.

At the demonstration, banners were displayed with slogans such as “Less phrases, more lawn!” and "Sports city Cologne? Finally shows it!" held. The fans' enthusiasm remained noticeable until the end of the event, when player Marina Hegering motivated the crowd and there was a joint march towards the town hall and Neumarkt. The FC anthem and the popular song “En Unser Veedel” by the Bläck Fööss were sung in support, emphasizing the unity of the FC family, as FC.de highlights.

Frustration in ticket sales

The protests are not only directed against the city's blockades, but also reflect fans' current dissatisfaction with the club's ticket sales system. As a report from OneFootball shows, advance sales for the first Bundesliga home game against SC Freiburg caused frustration among many fans. The early bird pre-sale was reserved exclusively for members, which meant that not all fans were able to take part. Some also reported long waiting times in the virtual waiting room.

The dissatisfaction led to a petition being launched calling for the stadium to be expanded from 50,000 to 70,000 seats. This underlines the growing need for more capacity in a market that is constantly changing. Supporting fans' concerns will continue to play a central role in the future, especially when it comes to leading 1. FC Köln into a promising future.