The news that HSV fans woke up to this morning was very positive indeed; they will be getting back the original name of their arena.
Former club captain Klaus-Michael Kühne invested €18.75million in return for a 7.5 percent stake in the club, as confirmed in a press conference this morning.
"We are very happy that Mr. Kuehne a real HSV man, reliable companion and true supporters is now also entered as a strategic partner," said Dietmar Beiersdorf, the CEO of HSV football AG, in the press conference.
"The fact that Mr. Kühne allows us to play again in Volksparkstadion pleases me.”
He admitted that the naming of the stadium was for fans, and himself, an “emotional affair."
The Chairman Karl Gernandt promised: "We will continue to work hard to ensure that the HSV recovers in all areas of competitiveness in the Bundesliga.”
Investor Kühne hopes that: "I can support the rise of HSV with my investment.” He wished: "that our team can able to return to previous successes in the Volksparkstadion."
The stadium will return to its name of ‘Volksparkstadion’, with which it was christened on opening in 1953, from July 1st 2015.
Since its construction, the stadium, located in Bahrenfeld, has had a number of different names due to sponsorship. From 1953-2001 it remained as the Volksparkstadion, from 2001-2007 it was the AOL Arena, for the 2006 World Cup it was simply named ‘Hamburg Stadium’, and from 2007-2010 it was the HSH Nordbank Arena. Since then it has been the Imtech Arena.
The news has to be positive. It is not often a club and a club legend listens to the fans and gives them back tradition at the expense of sponsorship and naming rights (although this was only possible with Kühne’s investment).
Hopefully the good times can be brought back to the Volksparkstadion in the very near future, but it is a positive step for the club and the fans, who cant wait to see it back to how it was for 48 years.