Frankfurt / Main (dpa) - Eintracht Frankfurt's board member Axel Hellmann fears the coronavirus pandemic will have far-reaching effects on the Bundesliga club well beyond the new season.
"We are only at the beginning of the crisis," said Hellmann of "Sport Bild" and added: "The aftermath will keep us busy for at least the next two years."
The 48-year-old particularly fears a slump in the economy, which would have a significant impact on the clubs. In this case, the clubs would lack further income in the areas of tickets, fan articles or sponsorship. Hellmann therefore maintains close contact with Frankfurt financial companies, from whom he regularly seeks advice. "At the various meetings, I ask everyone: How will the economy develop? The proximity to the financial center helps us assess the situation," he reported.
Hellmann is also worried about the audience question. "We miss the fans, and maybe we will lose some of them because they noticed: During the Corona period, I spent the weekends well without football. You shouldn't underestimate that," he warned. The health ministers of the federal states had given a provisional rejection of a partial return of fans to the stadiums at the start of the season in mid-September at the beginning of the week.
In order to bind a young audience in particular to the club in the long term, Eintracht wants to expand the standing area in the Frankfurt Arena to 19,000 seats by 2022. "It's about keeping young people in the clubs in the future through affordable seats," said Hellmann, explaining the investment. "If we don't do that, four or five years will be enough and this generation of young people can be lost to the clubs."
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Hellmann profile on Eintracht homepage