FC Hertha Wels Launches Bold Bundesliga Bid – But Stadium Remains Key Challenge
WELS, AUSTRIA – July 14, 2024 – In a stunning announcement that’s already reverberating through Austrian football circles, FC Hertha Wels has officially declared its intention to reach the Bundesliga within four years. The newly promoted second division side unveiled its ambitious plans at a press conference today, but a significant obstacle stands in their way: a stadium that’s currently far from Bundesliga-ready. This is a breaking news story with major implications for the future of football in Upper Austria, and a potential shake-up of the regional sporting landscape.
From Second Division to Top Flight: A Four-Year Plan
Head coach Christian Heinle emphasized a pragmatic approach, stating the immediate focus is securing their position in the second Bundesliga for the 2026/27 season. “The first year is about learning, adapting, and professionalizing the entire organization,” Heinle explained. The club has already begun transforming its squad into a fully professional operation, a crucial step towards realizing their long-term goals. This isn’t just about on-field performance; it’s a complete overhaul of the club’s infrastructure and mindset.
Economic Reason and Regional Partnerships Fuel the Ambition
CEO Peter Huliak, drawing on his experience with FC Blau-Weiß, stressed the importance of financial sustainability. “We want to establish professional football in Wels, but with economic reason,” he stated. The club is actively forging partnerships with prominent regional businesses like Felbermayr, EWW, and entrepreneur Manfred Zauner, whose logos will proudly adorn the team’s new jerseys. Felbermayr, a company with an annual turnover of approximately 700 million euros, sees the project as a way to strengthen its ties to the city. “Felbermayr and football might seem like an unusual combination, but we believe in this project and the club’s ambition,” said Horst Felbermayr, the company’s CEO.
The Huber Arena: A Critical Bottleneck
The current home of FC Hertha Wels, the Huber Arena, opened in 2015 and boasts excellent training facilities. However, its limited capacity – currently just over 500 covered seats – is a major impediment. Even for the second division, this is the bare minimum. To reach the Bundesliga, a minimum capacity of 5,000 seats is required, with a third of those covered. The recent ban on using temporary mobile grandstands further complicates matters. While the arena was designed with future expansion in mind, potentially reaching 7,000-8,000 seats, realizing that potential requires significant investment.
Funding Frustration: A Plea for Fair Play
Mayor Andreas Rabl acknowledges the need for expansion but cautions that it won’t be considered for at least four years. He also highlighted a perceived imbalance in state funding, pointing out that LASK received 30 million euros for their stadium construction, while FC Blau-Weiß Linz received only three million. “We want to address this inequality,” Rabl stated, hinting at upcoming discussions with the Upper Austria Sports Council. The potential for rapid success presents a unique challenge: if Hertha Wels exceeds expectations and earns promotion before the stadium is ready, they may be forced to play their home games elsewhere.
A Jersey That Speaks Volumes
Even the team’s new jersey design reflects the club’s confidence and its commitment to its sponsors. Departing from traditional club colors, the jersey is dominated by blue and yellow, representing partnerships with EWW and Felbermayr, respectively. This bold move signals a willingness to embrace commercial opportunities and a departure from the more conservative approach of some other Austrian clubs.
Budget and Long-Term Vision
With a current budget of two million euros, FC Hertha Wels is starting from a solid foundation. While significantly less than the budgets of top-tier clubs, the club believes it can attract further investment, leveraging Wels’ position as one of the most economically potent cities in Upper Austria. The club’s leadership, including Rabl, Huliak, and Heinle, are committed to a pragmatic and sustainable approach, learning from the past mistakes of other regional clubs.
The ambition of FC Hertha Wels is a breath of fresh air for Austrian football. It’s a story about a city determined to reclaim its place on the national sporting stage, a club willing to challenge the status quo, and a community rallying behind a shared dream. The next four years will be crucial, and the fate of this exciting project may well hinge on securing the necessary funding and expanding the Huber Arena. Stay tuned to archyde.com for continuing coverage of this developing story and the latest updates on FC Hertha Wels’ journey to the Bundesliga.
