Lehmann's stadium plans for 1860: investor or visionary?

Lehmann's stadium plans for 1860: investor or visionary?

The rumors about former national goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as a possible investor in TSV 1860 Munich have caused a stir among experts. But now President Gernot Mang has taken a clear position: “There is nothing to it, so there is nothing to say about it,” he said, in order to refute the speculation about Lehmann’s involvement. Nevertheless, the name Lehmann remains present in the discussion about the club's future, especially in relation to the stadium plans and his ambitions as an investor. Loud liga3-online.de Lehmann favors building a new modern stadium with a capacity of 40,000 to 50,000 spectators in Munich Riem.

The estimated costs for this ambitious project are around 250 to 350 million euros. While Lehmann is opening its eyes to co-investors to buy Hasan Ismaik's shares - the sales price is said to be between 25 and 30 million euros - Mang has other plans that he is pursuing vehemently. “Riem was never part of the discussions,” emphasizes the president and is committed to expanding the traditional Grünwald stadium.

The difference in visions

Despite Lehmann's concrete plans to join the Lions, which he has repeatedly expressed in the past when he considered a takeover in 2013 and 2016, the current president, Gernot Mang, is skeptical about these ambitions. Lehmann plans not only to act as an investor, but also to be actively involved in day-to-day business as “Head of Sport” and to bring two “prominent Lions legends” into the team. This could have an impact on the current sporting leadership and put pressure on the current sports director, Christian Werner.

At the same time, the renovation of the Grünwalder Stadium is generating technical discussions among experts. Architecture professor Florian Nagler, who specializes in simple and sustainable construction, developed plans for the renovation with his students. However, he expresses concerns about the 40 million euros earmarked for the renovations, which he believes are not enough to make significant progress. “The conversion of the Sechzgerstadion is complicated, especially because of the location and the existing development,” said Nagler. He also advocates preserving the character of the stadium and calls for strategic planning for the entire stadium area, including restaurants and open spaces.

The urban development opportunity

Nagler sees the renovation of the Sechzgerstadion as a great opportunity for Munich to make the landmark more urban and multifunctional. “We shouldn't concrete everything over,” he sums up, while bringing up the possibility of apartments above the east stand. If he has his way, the stadium could become not just a football field, but an integral part of city life. In this context, there would be no place for a modern football stadium, which is often located on the outskirts of the city.

The different views between Jens Lehmann and Gernot Mang not only represent different visions about the future of the club, but also about the challenges that the Grünwalder Stadium brings with it. Mang is consistently pursuing the expansion of the existing stadium, while Lehmann wants to combine the roots of the Munich Lions with a new stadium concept. The discussion about the stadium plans remains exciting, and the coming weeks could be decisive in determining which path is ultimately taken. The hopes and ideas are high, and both the club management and the city must now set the course for the future.

What happens next remains to be seen. It is clear that the decision will have an impact on both the sporting success and the urban development of Munich. Talks about a new stadium or the renovation of the Grünwalder Stadium are in full swing and reveal a lot about the ambitions of both parties.

In summary, it once again shows that the future of the lions in Munich is anything but clear. Both Lehmann's plans and Mang's views offer fans and the city a lot to discuss.