An hour and a half before the match against Anderlecht, the big men of Antwerp palped into the press room. football Affairs Director Marc Overmars, Chief Commercial Officer Jeroen De Smet, Strategic Partnership Lead Tom Aerts and director Steve van den Kerkhof, who withdrew the StadioStapier, lived the press conference of CEO Sven Jaecques on Tribune 2.
Jaecques confirmed that everything is really in order for the construction of a new stand 2. “I am very pleased to be able to report that we can start the demolition of our iconic grandstand in mid -May,” said Jaecques. “And at the latest in the November international break, the construction process must be ready. So super -positive news.”
Very welcome news for the supporters of The Great Old, because many feared the worst when a few weeks ago the cranes on the Bosuil were suddenly sent away. “This press conference shows that this concern was not necessary for anything. The reason we have not communicated before is because we did not want to speak before our turn.”
No money from Gheysens
Jaecques indicated that the stadium can be made from 16,000 to 21,000 places at the end of this year and that it will be viewed afterwards or full capacity (24,500 places) is possible. He also stated that the construction of the stand will cost around 12.5 million euros. “And it is the club itself that she is going to build and pay,” he said. Although there are external financiers in the game, but he does not want to elaborate on that. “If you buy a house, you don’t have that money directly, hey. There are people who help to pay for the stands, but I can’t say who those people are. They are not at all concerned with media attention and agreements have been made about it.”
In any case, it is not about owner Paul Gheysens (71). It has been known for some time that Antwerp wants/should become self -restrained and Gheysens also has to scour other kittens. His company Ghelamco is still in tough weather: it booked 324 million losses last year and has to sell – just like himself – of all real estate to get on top. So a logical question: should he also sell his football club?
Jaecques: “Dat is een moeilijke vraag, maar ik denk het niet. Ik werk uiteraard enkel voor Antwerp en niet voor alle andere bedrijven van Paul Gheysens, maar één ding is zeker: de man laat zich niet zomaar uit zijn lood slaan en is hier nog altijd enorm geëngageerd. Het is vandaag tien jaar geleden dat hij en zijn familie beslisten om de club te kopen en als je ziet wat we intussen allemaal hebben bereikt – zowel infrastructureel als sportief – is dat Phenomenal. As a club we have taken a healthy financial policy, we are also open to external capital.
“More expensive tickets”
Jaecques also addressed the supporters, because there was some fuss about the prices of the subscriptions that will rise in recent weeks. There was already protesting with banners. “We realize that in the current context it is not easy for anyone: not for people, not for companies, not for football clubs. But we are almost done with a price estimate that is honest and correct in our eyes. In mid -May we will communicate about it, as well as about our plan of action for all subscribers. Also for new subscribers, because we have been able to finally be able to make a waiting list of a good at a good time and we can finally be able to make a good at a good one. The new grandstand will give us extra oxygen and help us to realize our ambition. ”
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