Mr. Heim, yesterday the preliminary drafts and cost findings for the new Mercedes-Benz Arena were presented. The city council are quite satisfied. Are you, as one of the two managers of the PLC, also satisfied?
Stefan Heim: "The results are positive throughout and we are still operating within our initial financial framework. We have been able to successfully clear all structural hurdles and have also managed to begin work within our arranged time plan. It's all systems go on absolutely every point."
A sport hall is planned in the 'Untertürkheimer Kurve'. What is planned for the 'Cannstatter Kurve', the traditional home of VfB's most loyal fans?
Stefan Heim: "The multi-functional hall, which was originally planned as a hall to let to third parties, will now not be realised. With our new plan, we can now raise the complete capacity of the Mercedes-Benz Arena to 60,000 for Bundesliga games. In the ‘Cannstatter Kurve', there will be a standing section for 10,000 fans which will be combined with the seated section in that part of the stadium to house the ‘VfB Fan-Block' for home games. All those fans in that stand that are currently quite a distance away from the pitch, will be shifted to within ten meters of the playing surface - almost within touching distance of the players on the pitch. We also have the option in the future of erecting a VfB museum or a stadium oratory in the 'Cannstatter Kurve'.
So you are completely convinced that by August 2011, for the beginning of that season, that VfB will be playing their games in a pure football arena, just like the vast majority of their opponents in the league?
Stefan Heim: "Absolutely! Following the reconstruction work, the Mercedes-Benz Arena will be one of the top five stadiums in Germany."
