General Assembly of the Union: more than 40 million euros in turnover for the first time

About 1,000 members of the 1st Union FC gathered in the gym Hämmerlingstraße, not far from the stadium, at Alte Försterei. Bad mood that they did not have in the luggage. Why The 1st FC Union is doing well now. In second division, the team remains undefeated after 14 games and can take a delicate look at the climb. But as far from the field, the Union is poor in controversy. In short, the Iron Age is facing a relatively mild winter. It was different last year. Since the club fired former coach Jens Keller, he struggled to provide a plausible justification. Twelve months later, President Dirk Zingler admitted mistakes: "We underestimated the performance of coach Jens Keller and poorly communicated."

Otherwise, Zingler had only a lot of good news to announce. Total revenues for the 2017/18 fiscal year amounted to nearly 44 million euros. The budget had thus surpbaded the 40 million mark for the first time in the history of the club. What was left was a profit of 195,000 euros. This is enshrined in Zingler's principles: "We continue to grow in all areas and increase our returns, but we do not spend more than we earn." Zingler will not withdraw either in the current season.

The Union will gain a little more than 47 million euros at the end of June, with 70,000 euros remaining as a profit. Zingler also scored points with other figures: the club has welcomed about 3,500 new members over the past year, for a total of 21,394.

With so many influxes, it is not surprising that the stadium An der Alten Försterei is becoming too small. "The reception areas are always full," said Zingler, who has long advocated extending the arena to 37,000 seats. "We are going to expand the stadium and fund it wisely.It is a project for the next decades of the club and we will not take the pressure on the administration." Union would like to start growing next year, although the Senate Department of Urban Development and Housing believes this is unrealistic. Another infrastructure project is the construction of the new talent center. In the summer of 2019, the first stone will be laid.

In addition to the economic parameters, Zingler also is devoted to the cultural aspects of football. He affirmed critical critical positions that the club had already published in an early October article and called: "A pursuit of maximum media revenue, I consider a very dangerous way." Nothing is more valuable – not even for the marketing of media rights – than sold out, stadiums without protest and Konfilkte, where takes place exciting football matches. "Words with which not only members of the Union disagree.

Broadcasting: rbb24, 28.11.2018, 21:45