Wattens council rejects one-million-euro guarantee for WSG Tirol stadium

The Wattens municipal council has rejected a one-million-euro guarantee for Austrian Bundesliga football club WSG Tirol’s planned stadium project, ORF reported. The council voted 11 to eight against assuming liability for the project.

The decision was attributed to the unpredictable risks of professional football, the size of the guarantee, the lack of guarantees from other parties and the municipality’s strained finances following major job cuts at Swarovski.

WSG Tirol currently plays its home matches at Innsbruck’s Tivoli stadium but said it would continue pursuing plans to develop a Bundesliga-standard home ground in Wattens.

The club and construction company Fröschl unveiled the plans nearly a year ago. The project is expected to cost around six million euros and provide space for 5,300 fans.

WSG Tirol is now working to implement a second construction phase at the Gernot Langes Stadium, including three stands, LED floodlights and a public-address system. The club said a key step was reaching the collateral ratio required by banks to finance the work.

Banks had repeatedly called for the municipality, as owner of the stadium grounds, to provide a guarantee. WSG Tirol approached the mayor and municipal council last week to request the required guarantee and support.

Despite the rejection, the club said it remained committed to adapting the stadium in Wattens to Bundesliga standards and securing the club’s long-term development.