Union Berlin’s planned expansion of the Stadion An der Alten Försterei has been reduced from 40,500 to 34,500 seats after authorities rejected the club’s original traffic and transport concept as unworkable.
The Bundesliga club had initially hoped to boost capacity to over 40,000, but Berlin officials raised concerns that the surrounding infrastructure could not safely handle such large crowds, forcing a compromise at 34,500 spectators. The revised plan keeps the stadium’s structure largely intact, with additional seating replacing some of the previously planned standing areas, while still allowing future changes if transport links are upgraded.
Despite the cut, Union intend to carry out the redevelopment on their historic home site in Köpenick rather than relocating, with construction scheduled to begin later this decade and the team remaining in the district during the works. Fan groups, closely involved in discussions around the project, have agreed to shoulder part of the financial impact by accepting a ticket price increase of around 1–2 euros during the reduced-capacity phase. Club officials and local politicians continue to present the expansion as a joint project aimed at safeguarding Union’s long-term competitiveness while balancing neighbourhood and transport constraints.
