Since 2021, Union has been growing in the sporting arena, and its fan base keeps expanding.   

The capacity of the Marien Stadium (8,500 seats) is far from sufficient to meet demand. The Marien is structurally sold out. As a result, many fans are unable to watch their favorite team play or experience the Union atmosphere. 

Furthermore, the Marien Stadium no longer meets UEFA standards for European competitions. We have to play all of our Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League matches elsewhere. Our fans have to travel, sometimes far from where they live. In the medium term, the Marien Stadium may even no longer be able to meet the safety standards of the Pro League (Belgian First Division).  

Finally, the Chaussée de Bruxelles, as the only access route to the stadium, poses real challenges in terms of safety, logistics, and mobility. A steep incline behind the stands makes it impossible to access the stadium other than via the Chaussée de Bruxelles.  

These are all reasons why Union is committed to providing its fans with a new, modern, accessible, and welcoming stadium—one that can accommodate the entire Unionist family at every match. 

 The pitch, the stands, and the waiting and access areas together cover 27,000 m², which is on the lower end of the average for similar stadiums. The project is designed to make optimal use of the existing space and to preserve—or even enhance—all the functions that currently exist. 

Not at all. Despite its popularity, Union wants to remain down-to-earth and preserve its community spirit. The new stadium will have a capacity of 16,000 on match days. By way of comparison, the KV Mechelen stadium has a capacity of just over 16,000. The Stade du Pays de Charleroi has 15,000 seats; their future stadium will have 21,000 seats, the same capacity as Antwerp’s. And this capacity is significantly lower than that of Belgium’s traditional top clubs, such as Anderlecht, Genk, Bruges, Ghent, and Standard.    

Finally, the project includes no shopping center, no hotel, and no office space other than that intended for club employees. There are absolutely no plans to host musical events there. There are plenty of concert venues in the Brussels area. Take Forest National, for example, located right nearby.   

The total number of matches per year is expected to be between 20 and 25. Union is open to sharing the stadium for other sporting uses, in consultation with the relevant authorities. 

The building (the stadium) will be 100% funded by the RUSG.  

We all share a deep love for the Marien Stadium. It is an iconic and historic site—so historic, in fact, that its façade is officially listed as a protected landmark. The Marien is also located within Duden Park, which is itself a listed site. This prevents any significant expansion and limits the stadium’s ability to comply with UEFA standards. 

Moreover, the surrounding neighborhood almost literally borders the stadium. On match days, all access to the Marien and all pedestrian flows are concentrated on a single, narrow street the Chaussée de Bruxelles. This creates major safety and mobility challenges for residents, visitors, and fans. 

By contrast, the new stadium will be located in Bempt, in a predominantly industrial area. A minimum distance of 250 meters will separate it from the nearest residential zones. 

The main access route will be the Boulevard de la Deuxième Armée Britannique, which is far wider and more suitable for large crowds. 

The heart of Union beats in Saint-Gilles and Forest. These two municipalities are by far the most represented among our supporters. Our presence in the community is strongest there on a day-to-day basis. Union’s DNA is Saint-Gilles and Forest, and the club is absolutely committed to preserving this identity.   

It also makes so much more sense: making many residents of Forest and Saint-Gilles cross the city would be nonsensical from a practical and mobility standpoint.  

That is not an option. It is a matter of identity, mobility, and sustainability.  RUSG is deeply proud of and committed to its identity as a club of Brussels, Saint-Gilles, and Forest.   

The vast majority of our supporters (70%) come from the 19 municipalities of the Brussels Region. It is essential that they continue to be able to get to the stadium on foot, by bike, or by public transportation.   

The Audi site, along Boulevard de la 2ème Armée Britannique, represents significant economic and industrial employment potential for the Brussels Region. Political decision-makers have explicitly reaffirmed their intention to maintain this area exclusively for industrial use. 

Moreover, there would be no advantage in terms of the surrounding environment compared to the Bempt site, as the Audi site is also located along Boulevard de la 2ème Armée Britannique, at the same level. 

Finally, the Bempt site offers ideal conditions in terms of safety and management, which cannot be replicated elsewhere. On the Audi site, the layout of the road network would not allow visiting supporters to be separated from the “urban core,” as will be the case at Bempt. 

Perspective.brussels has indeed studied other sites within the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Forest. In addition to Marien and the Bempt site, the analysis also examined the Bertelson Stadium, located in the immediate vicinity of the current stadium. 

This study highlights that the Bertelson Stadium presents similar (and even more significant) issues compared to Marien, particularly in terms of accessibility and disturbances in the heart of densely populated neighborhoods. 

Moreover, this space is intensively used by the Forestoise athletics club. A concrete renovation project is being carried out by the municipality of Forest for the benefit of its members. Bertelson is therefore intended to remain dedicated to the practice of athletics. 

Visit the Union Saint-Gilloise website at rusg.brussels and follow us on social media.