New football pitch for ESV Ost in Munich: hope for sport!

New football pitch for ESV Ost in Munich: hope for sport!

A lot is happening in football in Munich, especially at ESV Munich-Ost. At the point where the railway lines to Simbach and Rosenheim intersect, a new football pitch is being built, which is urgently needed. This step comes after the old sports field on Truderinger Strasse was abandoned in favor of a new development in 2021 and a training ground on Kronstadter Strasse also had to give way in 2019 to make room for a second main route. The Fehwiesenstrasse district sports facility has also no longer been usable since the end of 2022 as it is being converted into the East Sports Campus.

ESV Munich-Ost, which was founded in 1933 and has a close connection to Berg am Laim, has seen the need for a new pitch since the 1990s. Chairman Rolf Leonhardt emphasizes that the original plans call for a settlement west of Baumkirchner Straße, where a new sports center was opened in 2020. There is great anticipation for the new football pitch in Gleisdreieck, as it will be equipped with modern artificial turf and floodlights, which will enable training all year round. The plan is for play to begin in the second half of the season in spring 2026.

Financing and infrastructure

The financing of the project is secured by a generous donation and funding from BLSV and the city of Munich. Mayor Verena Dietl praised the association for their courage and patience throughout the entire process. Work on the functional building with changing rooms and sanitary facilities is currently still in progress. With a membership of around 300, spanning men's, women's and youth teams, the club plans to increase this number to 600 to reduce waiting lists.

The problem of the shortage of suitable venues is not new. According to a report by the South German newspaper Both amateur and professional clubs in Munich have difficulty finding suitable places. While the city's largest stadium, the Fröttmaninger Arena, is owned by FC Bayern Munich and requires extensive renovations and investments, solutions are desperately being sought to eliminate these bottlenecks.

The ESV Munich-Ost in the context of Munich sports

ESV Ost is not alone with its challenges. In addition, there are various stadiums and sports facilities in Munich that are also dependent on investments and expansions. For example, the city council is planning to invest almost 30 million euros in the Grünwalder Stadium, which will expand the capacity from 15,000 to 18,060 seats. Given the high demand, it is clear that the new soccer field in Gleisdreieck is an important step in the right direction.

The future looks promising for ESV Ost: The new pitch will not only support the club, but also the entire football community in Munich and help to use the few available pitches more effectively.