It certainly has its charm: in the run-up to the 2024 European Football Championship, Garmisch-Partenkirchen could be the base camp for a participating nation.
For this, however, the space on Gröben must be upgraded for a six-figure sum.
The local council will decide this evening whether it comes to that.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- 600,000 euros are in the room. For having the grass in the stadium on Gröben prepared. A proud sum to possibly become a base camp for a participant in the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany. The members of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen municipal council will decide at their meeting on Thursday whether to take this money in hand. It will definitely be an exciting discussion, the opinions of the political groups are quite different in advance.
Martin Sielmann is very critical of this project.
“Do we need that?” Throws the FDP lone fighter into the room.
What worries him above all are the follow-up costs associated with a lawn suitable for the national team.
In addition, there is the uncertainty whether one of the 24 teams will choose Garmisch-Partenkirchen at all.
The teams are finally offered 40 locations where they can set up their EM base camp.
Claudia Zolk (CSB), on the other hand, is convinced that the market community will have a say.
“Our place is moving”, says the second mayor with a view of the unique location in the middle of the mountain scenery.
Platz am Gröben urgently needs to be renovated in the near future
She is also aware that a lot of money is involved. But if she thinks that the square, which, in addition to the footballers of 1. FC Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is primarily used for school and popular sports, will have to be renovated in the near future anyway, the expenses are put into perspective. "This is an opportunity to receive additional funding," says Zolk. Another positive side effect is the possibility of marketing the area for training professional teams in the future.
Daniel Schimmer (Free Voters) also counts on this. “We would like to liven up the off-season in particular.” The local politician is familiar with this matter, after all he is the local chairman of the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association. "For this we need attractive events in order to increase the occupancy rate." In his opinion, training camps for high-ranking teams are a building block for this. If the drainage system, which has long been required, is installed under the lawn on Gröben, “that's just a good thing”. The impetus for this would be provided by the EM Basecamp, which Schimmer promises to be PR for the location. “Of course, media interest strongly depends on the country that comes to us,” he admits. The players, however, arrive with a whole entourage and are sure to bring their families and fans with them.
Beneficiaries of the EM basecamp should also make a contribution
In addition to advertising, Andreas Grasegger (Bavarian Party) also expects positive effects for sport in his home town.
“It's good for young people if there's something other than skiing.” The key question for him is whether the market can afford it.
After all, there are completely different things on the agenda.
Grasegger has a particular eye on the millions that are spent on schools.
Ulrike Bittner-Wolf (SPD) is also thinking of this in view of “this decision, which is difficult in my opinion”. The actual construction and thus the actual output does not begin until the contract has been awarded. Nevertheless, she asks herself: “How sustainable is the whole thing and what does it bring for the common good?” She cannot imagine that high-ranking football teams will flock to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the future. She hopes to get answers to her concerns in today's meeting. Also on whether grants are flowing for lawn rehabilitation. Because “it doesn't work without it”.
Anton Hofer (Garmisch + Partenkirchen together) does not only want to tap into funding pots.
“The beneficiaries, for example the hotel, should also make a contribution.” He thinks the idea of having an EM camp in town is “not bad”, also in order to get away from the image of the winter sports location.
However, the financing is more than questionable, especially since the market is facing other, much larger construction sites.
Installation of a drainage is absolutely useful
Anton Witting (CSU) also has that in the back of his head when he thinks about the upcoming decision. "With a little stomachache" he goes to the meeting and will probably vote for the project. The argument that the place has to be prepared independently of the possible basecamp convinces him. "Then we can do it right away." And with that we take grants and the positive effects of the European Football Championship with us.
Dr.
Stephan Thiel (Alliance 90 / The Greens).
He thinks it makes sense to renovate the lawn, and above all to finally provide it with drainage.
“We have to tackle that anyway, then we can do it right away.” According to him, after prolonged rainfall, the course becomes very soft and therefore not playable.
"I think it makes sense to train that." If this should go hand in hand with the chance to greet a European Championship participant in town, that would be a good thing.