I live in the Bempt neighborhood
Where exactly will the new stadium be located?
The project for the Union’s new stadium is located in the northwestern part of the Bempt site. Currently, this area includes an unused soccer field, a soil and tree storage area, technical facilities belonging to the municipality of Forest (which will be relocated), and a rugby field that will also be relocated to the immediate vicinity, less than 300 meters away.
The park area itself is located in the south and east of the Bempt site.
A minimum distance of 250 meters will separate the stadium from the nearest residential buildings. This is much greater than at any other stadium in the Brussels region (such as the Marien, the Molenbeek Stadium, and the Anderlecht Stadium) and in Belgium (with the exception of the new stadium in Ghent).
Who will ensure the safety of the neighbourhood?
As with all football matches, safety is ensured by Union’s stewards, with the presence and support of the police, the Red Cross and the fire brigade. This is the standard procedure. In addition, Union also funds a private security company.
We are also very proud of the Union culture, which stands out for its values of non-violence and inclusion. Our supporters prioritize a positive atmosphere and are well known for it. It is our ambition to continue fostering this unique spirit.
Supporters from other clubs are going to come near our place. How are you going to handle them?
Belgian regulations (“Football Law”) require visiting club supporters to travel in organized group buses. This system, known as “combi-buses,” helps prevent any disturbances caused by the presence of visiting supporters.
In the case of the Bempt Stadium, the planned layout will prevent any interaction with the residential neighborhoods of Forest and the park. Access to and exit from their parking lot is directly connected to the Ring.
What about noise on match days? What will the noise impact be on the neighborhood? And what measures does the club plan to take?
Union’s new stadium will be more than 250 meters away from the nearest residential areas. That’s much further than at the Stade Marien, where homes are located right across from the Chaussée de Bruxelles. It is also significantly more than at other stadiums in Brussels or at any other Belgian first-division stadium, with the exception of the new stadium in Ghent.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the 20 to 25 matches per year at the Bempt Stadium will generate noise. The RUSG is therefore planning measures, both in terms of infrastructure and organization, to minimize the noise impact on residential neighborhoods.
The stadium’s orientation, the side closures of the stands, and the use of directional speakers will help contain as much noise as possible within the stadium or toward the industrial areas and the Ring.
From an organizational standpoint, managing noise levels and limiting amplified sound sources will also help control the noise impact on nearby neighborhoods.
What will be the noise impact of the stadium on non-game days?
Acoustic studies indicate that the stadium’s presence provides a localized improvement in the acoustic environment compared to existing traffic noise, particularly to the east.
Who will clean up the neighborhood after thousands of people have passed through?
This is already the case and will continue in and around the new stadium. The Union’s Ecoteam comes by immediately after each match, and volunteers pick up trash. They assist the municipal services and Bruxelles Propreté, who then come by the next morning for a thorough cleanup.
Could the stadium increase the risk of flooding in the neighborhood?
The project is designed to minimize soil sealing by using permeable materials wherever possible.
However, some impermeable surfaces (such as the forecourt just before the stadium entrance) are unavoidable to accommodate supporters.
No rainwater from the project site will be directed into the sewage system. Rainwater will either be redirected to the Senne via the construction of a new connection from the stadium’s retention tanks to the river, or reused directly on site through storage reservoirs, for example for the pitch, cleaning and sanitary facilities.
This culvert (which will be financed by Union) constitutes the missing link in the existing municipal rainwater network. It will not only manage rainwater from the project but also improve overall rainwater management in the eastern part of the municipality of Forest.
