Published
2024-10-11
Bempt stadium project update before local elections 2024
On the eve of the local elections, Union stresses the importance of the stadium project at the Bemptsite, for the professional survival of the club. Union regrets Ecolo Forest's contradictory positions at the negotiating table versus its statements in election time. It is up to voters on Sunday to judge what the party's sincere position is.
Dear fans of Union, residents of Forest and football fans,
On the eve of the local elections in Forest, the club would like to stress the importance of a new stadium for the survival of Union Saint-Gilloise at the professional level.
The new stadium was regularly a topic of debate and electioneering among the various Forest parties in the run-up to the municipal elections on 13 October. In this context, the club regrets the recent statements by the leadership of Ecolo Vorst, which do not correspond to the content of the talks and negotiations of recent months and years.*
A thorough upgrade of the Marienstadion was put forward as an option in last 8 October's local list-makers' debate on channel BX1. That option is not feasible, several studies by the Brussels Region at the request of Ecolo Forest itself, among others, prove. Moreover, the Marienstadion continues to have a listed facade and the Dudenpark should not be touched either.
Studies
The College of Aldermen, as also publicly confirmed by the rest of the majority, received the various mobility and impact studies that the club commissioned for a new stadium at the Bempt site. In doing so, the college noted, it was also part of the guidance committee.
Union received the ‘Ecdoynamic company’ label from Bruxelles Environnement, which rewards exemplary sustainability management. The club also works closely with the Region on waste management as part of the Be Circular project. This genuine and unique commitment of the club also translates into the vision for the stadium project.
Indeed, carrying out the studies was agreed in July 2023 as part of the talks that took place with the Region and the municipality, and this at the express request of Ecolo Forest, among others. The three parties - commune, Region and club - then expressly agreed to continue working towards a financial agreement on the acquisition of the proposed site at Bemptsite. This was published on 20/07/2023 by the club and explicitly validated by the representatives of both Region and commune.**
Durable pioneer club
De club wil benadrukken dat ze zich al jaren overtuigd inzet voor duurzaamheid, milieu en het sociale lokale weefsel. Sinds 2018 heeft de club een full-time Sustainability Manager in dienst, wat bijzonder zeldzaam is in het Europese voetbal.
Union is ook bijzonder trots op haar B-Corp-label. Dat wil zeggen dat we strenge sociale en milieunormen behalen in onze verschillende bedrijfstakken en dus niet enkel winst voor onze aandeelhouders nastreven. De club is de enige sportorganisatie wereldwijd die gerectificeerd is als B Corporation.
Ook lokaal wordt de inzet van Union voor een duurzamere wereld erkend. De club ontving het label ‘Ecdoynamisch bedrijf’ van Leefmilieu Brussel, dat voorbeeldig duurzaamheidsbeheer beloont.
Union regrets Ecolo Forest's contradictory positions at the negotiating table versus its statements in election times. It is now up to voters to judge what the party's sincere position is.
In terms of waste management, the club works closely with the Region as part of the Be Circular project. That genuine and unique commitment of the club also translates into the vision for the stadium project: Union Saint-Gilloise plans to build one of the most sustainable stadiums in all of Europe. The club is keen to make this an inspiring project, together with the municipality of Forest.
Union thus regrets Ecolo Forest's contradictory positions at the negotiating table versus its statements in election times. It is now up to the voters to judge what the party's sincere position is.
Union therefore calls on its numerous fans from Forest to make a thoughtful choice on Sunday about the new stadium and the club's future.
Union's club management is awaiting the election results and coalition formation. And will then immediately request a consultation with the new majority, regardless of its composition.