Feyenoord is currently considering two different options for a new Kuip, according to Dutch broadcasters NOS and RTV Rijnmond. They claim that two parties are currently working independently on two different plans, after which Feyenoord will make the final decision.
The first party, led by a consortium of construction company BAM, Siemens, and energy company Eneco, wants to rebuild the current stadium into a modern one. Though the design includes some of the characteristic elements of the current Kuip, the reconstruction will be comprehensive and basically mean a complete new stadium.
Building works in this scenario will be performed over a four year period, during which Feyenoord will be able to keep playing at their home, though with a reduced capacity of 40,000.
The other interested party is construction company Volker Wessels. They envision a complete new Kuip, to be built right next to the old one (photo above). The old stadium will however not get demolished, but preserved for other sports.
In both cases the capacity of the new stadium will be in the area of 63,000 to 65,000 seats, an addition of 15,000 places in comparison with the current Kuip, but a reduction from former plans that aimed for a capacity of 80,000.
These former plans, which featured a new stadium on the banks of the river Meuse, have now officially been discarded as these constituted a too big financial risk for the city of Rotterdam, which proved to be unacceptable for the city council.
These same financial risks will likely also be the critical issue in the new plans. Both plans assume a cost of about €300 million, which will have to be largely privately financed as to reduce the risks for the city of Rotterdam.
The concrete plans and costs will be presented to the club in September, after which Feyenoord will choose one of the two and present it to the Rotterdam city council. The club hopes to move into the new stadium by the year 2018.
De Kuip, arguably the most iconic stadium of the Netherlands, recently celebrated its 75th birthday. Though many fans will be reluctant to see the current stadium disappear, a new stadium with modern facilities will be essential for the future of the financially-plagued club.
Render via nos.nl