Hybrid turf pitch for the future of competitive sport
01.11.2023 – Competitive and elite sport in Offenbach is to receive a hybrid turf pitch in the Sana Sportpark, which combines the advantages of a natural grass pitch with those of an artificial pitch. To finance the costs of around 855,000 euros, the city had applied for funding from the state of Hesse via the developer, Sport und Freizeit GmbH Offenbach (SFO) of Stadtwerke Offenbach. This has now been approved. The Minister of the Interior and Sport of the State of Hesse, Peter Beuth, handed over the grant notification for 428,000 euros to City Treasurer Martin Wilhelm in Offenbach on Monday, October 30, on behalf of Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke, who was ill. SFO Managing Director Andreas Herzog, Sports District Chairman Jörg Wagner and OFC President Joachim Wagner were also present.
"The Hessian state government is aware that attractive sport requires the most attractive framework conditions possible," said Sports Minister Peter Beuth at the handover in the Sana Sportpark. "This is precisely why we are supporting sport in the city and state with record investments and funding programs tailored to the needs of the clubs. The conversion of the grass pitch into a hybrid pitch is an important step towards strengthening the competitiveness of the Kickers' regional league team. Only if the training conditions are up to date and enable year-round, high-quality training can Kickers Offenbach ensure its ability to attract talented young players to the youth training center. I wish the club all the best and every success with the construction work."
The OFC had approached him as head of the sports department last winter with a request to improve the training conditions for competitive and top-class sport, as Lord Mayor Felix Schwenke had explained in advance. As Offenbach's Head of Sports, he had approached the Minister of Sport in order to be able to implement this request. Especially during periods of bad weather, the 15-year-old natural turf pitches in the Sana Sportpark are hardly usable for top athletes. It was an exceptionally high level of financial support that resulted from his request to the state. "This underlines the trust in a joint mission to improve the sports infrastructure in Offenbach," Schwenke had said when preparing for the meeting.
Sports facility infrastructure in Offenbach is being improved step by step
City Treasurer Martin Wilhelm accepted the funding decision on Monday on behalf of the Lord Mayor. "As part of the sports facility development plan, we are gradually improving the sports infrastructure within the city area. A hybrid pitch that can be played on all year round is of great importance, especially for the training conditions of the OFC teams," said City Treasurer Wilhelm. He not only thanked the minister for the support of the state of Hesse in achieving this goal, but also SFO Managing Director Andreas Herzog for driving the project forward with passion and dedication.
"We decided to build such a pitch here at the Sana Sportpark because of the high usage times of the OFC performance center. Not only can it be used by the performance center teams, but the regional league team, for example, can also train on it in compliance with the DFB's exclusivity requirements," said Wilhelm.
One of three existing natural grass pitches will be redesigned for the new training pitch. These had suffered from fungal infestation from time to time and the drainage layer no longer fulfilled its purpose. The new hybrid turf pitch will not only have a new drainage system, but the water will also be fed into the existing rainwater retention basin. This will then be used to irrigate the sports facility.
Athletes are expected to be able to train on the new pitch from the summer
"Hybrid turf pitches are a very special surface for athletes to train and compete on," says sports district chairman Jörg Wagner. "Hybrid turf is now not only being laid in Bundesliga stadiums, but also in the first local authorities. We are delighted that Offenbach is taking this step and that the conditions for sport are being improved as a result."
The SFO is responsible for the construction of the new pitch. The city will bear the difference between the amount of the grant and the total construction costs. SFO Managing Director Andreas Herzog and his SFO team, led by Head Greenkeeper David Gesser, will now press ahead with the contract award and implementation. "If everything goes smoothly, work could start at the end of February or beginning of March next year, depending on the weather. This will take around six to eight weeks, after which the grass will be sown between the artificial fibers and will need time to grow. We expect the athletes to be able to train on the new pitch in the summer."
Hybrid turf pitches are more durable and can be used all year round
The maintenance of the area with the combination of synthetic fibers and blades of grass is carried out by the greenkeepers of Stadiongesellschaft Bieberer Berg, who also look after the natural turf on the training ground of the OFC professional team and in the stadium. "Hybrid turf pitches require more maintenance than other pitches, but they are more durable and can be used virtually all year round," says Andreas Herzog, who is also Managing Director of SBB.
"We are delighted that we will soon be able to use such a training pitch on our doorstep thanks to the efforts of our sports department head and the sports minister," says OFC President Joachim Wagner. "A hybrid turf pitch guarantees long-term use and is an important part of the future of competitive and top-class sport."