Hardtwaldstadion Explained

GP Stadion am Hardtwald
Fullname:GP Stadion am Hardtwald
Former Names:Hardtwaldstadion
BWT-Stadion am Hardtwald
Location:Sandhausen, Germany
Coordinates:49.3322°N 8.6478°W
Opened:1951
Renovated:1987–88, 2002, 2007, 2008
Expanded:2012, 2014, 2016
Owner:SV Sandhausen
Surface:grass
Capacity:15,414 (9,806 standing)
Tenants:SV Sandhausen (1951–present)

Hardtwaldstadion, currently known as GP Stadion am Hardtwald for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Sandhausen, Germany. Situated in a small patch of forest near the Sandhausen town limits, it is the home stadium of local football team SV Sandhausen. The stadium is owned by the club.

History

The stadium was opened in 1951 and was originally equipped with a clay pitch. A grass pitch was installed in 1961. The structure underwent expansion in 1987/88, when a roofed all-seater main stand was added. Further renovation works were conducted in 2001 with the addition of floodlights and in 2008 with several modifications to meet standards for the 3. Liga. These included adding a temporary stand with a capacity of 2,500, installation of a video scoreboard, expansion of press and police facilities and the building of a VIP house. Afterwards, Hardtwaldstadion could hold 10,231 spectators.

Due to the promotion of the team to 2. Bundesliga, the stadium received some more improvements during 2012 summer break. Among these were under-soil heating, a platform for TV-cameras as well as two new stands, which raised the capacity to about 12.100 spectators. If the team manages to establish itself in 2nd Liga, another two stands have to be added, backing the western goal area and the southern area, to extend the capacity to about 15.000.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

In March 2017, BWT, a manufacturer of speciality chemicals and systems for water treatment, acquired the naming rights to the stadium, which was then officially named BWT-Stadion am Hardtwald.[6]

After relegation to the 3. Liga, the contract with BWT was not continued, as the company wanted to realign its sponsorship portfolios.[7] Starting in the 2023–24 season, GP Gölz Paletten GmbH from Zweibrücken became the new name sponsor on a "long-term" contract, so the stadium was officially renamed GP Stadion am Hardtwald.[8]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Christoph Moll: Das Hardtwaldstadion wird zur Fussballarena. Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, 5. May 2012, checked 20. August 2012. (german)
  2. http://www.morgenweb.de/region/schwetzinger-zeitung-hockenheimer-tageszeitung/lokalsport-sz/investition-in-beine-und-steine-1.575292 Investition in Beine und Steine
  3. Claus Weber: Mit breiter Brust ins Pokalspiel . Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, 18. August 2012, checked 20. August 2012. (german)
  4. http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?head=Update-Sandhausener-Hardtwaldstadion-wird-ausgebaut&folder=sites&site=news_detail&news_id=7258 Galerie: Sandhausener Hardtwaldstadion wird ausgebaut
  5. Wendelin Hübner: Der Dorfclub. Spiegel Online, 3. August 2012, checked 20. August 2012. (german)
  6. Web site: BWT sichert sich Stadion-Namensrecht und Trikotärmel des SV Sandhausen . infront.sport . 15 March 2017 . 29 July 2020 . de.
  7. Web site: Büsselmann . Marco . Sandhausen-Stadion erhält neuen Namen: SVS und BWT beenden Kooperation . heidelberg24.de . 4 May 2023 . 9 May 2023 . de.
  8. Web site: "GP Stadion am Hardtwald": Gölz Paletten wird neuer Namensgeber . svs1916.de . SV Sandhausen . 16 May 2023 . 29 June 2023 . de.