Why are you cutting down 237 trees?

Submitted by Anaëlle Dufour on

In total, 37 trees will be preserved and 30 will be relocated. 237 will have to be felled. The trees to be removed will be more than compensated for by the planting of 239 new large specimens. 

Two additional vegetation layers will also be planted on densely planted embankments, consisting of shrubs and 2,860 forest plants. 

The competent authorities have furthermore confirmed that there is scientific certainty that this felling will not harm the species identified in the Bempt area. 

Will streets be closed on game days?

Submitted by Anaëlle Dufour on

Boulevard de la Deuxième Armée Britannique will remain open to traffic before and during games. Given the large number of fans leaving the stadium after games, the boulevard will be closed to traffic for a short period after the game (30 to 60 minutes) for safety reasons.  

The temporary post-match closure applies to the section between the intersections with Boulevard de l’Humanité and Square des Menhirs. 

What impact will the stadium project have on traffic congestion on game days?

Submitted by Anaëlle Dufour on

Since the 20 to 25 matches per year are held mainly on weekends or, less frequently, in the late evening, they do not coincide with peak traffic hours.  

Furthermore, a large majority of fans—around 70%—will travel to the stadium by means other than car. This proportion is based on simulations conducted in the mobility study carried out by certified experts, the conclusions of which have been validated by regional public institutions.  

Is there a risk that fan parking will encroach on parking in residential neighborhoods?

Submitted by Anaëlle Dufour on

In addition to on-site parking for officials, team and staff buses, and visiting fans, the industrial nature of the area offers a very large off-street capacity that will be utilized on game days. The identified capacity (2,940 available spaces) far exceeds the demand estimated by the match-day mobility study (2,100 spaces). The identified capacity—based solely on agreements in principle that have already been approved—is consistently greater than the identified needs, regardless of the match scenario.  

What about parking?

Submitted by Anaëlle Dufour on

A 150-space covered parking garage is planned, primarily for officials and match delegations. This is one of the project’s major environmental strengths: the low number of parking spaces built for a new stadium project. It is significantly lower than in the vast majority of other projects of this type.  

Go Union! By bike

Submitted by Anaëlle Dufour on

The stadium is easily accessible by bike, particularly via the dedicated bike path on Boulevard de la Deuxième Armée Britannique. 

A permanent bike parking lot with 120 spaces is planned. On match days, this will be supplemented by 2,072 temporary bike and scooter parking spaces. All bike parking spaces will be secure and will also accommodate family bikes. 

Go Union! By public transit

Submitted by Anaëlle Dufour on

Union will collaborate with public transit agencies (primarily the STIB, but also the SNCB) to further enhance their appeal on match days. A memorandum of understanding has already been signed with the STIB to ensure that relevant lines operate at maximum capacity before and after matches. 

Key tram lines are all located near the new stadium: the 4 (Gare du Nord – Stalle), the 82 (Gare de Berchem – Drogenbos), and the 97 (Louise – Dieweg), as well as the Forest-Midi and Forest-Est stations.  

Is the Forest Steam Train threatened by the future stadium?

Submitted by Anaëlle Dufour on

No, not at all! The Forest Steam Train takes passengers through the eastern and southern parts of Bempt. The new stadium will be located in the northwestern part. Our hope is that the stadium and the Steam Train will coexist in perfect harmony.   

Note that the Forest Steam Train runs from late April to early October. Part of this period coincides with the RUSG’s off-season. There are no matches between late May and late July. 

Can you guarantee that the soccer and rugby clubs in Bempt will keep their fields? And the pétanque club as well?

Submitted by Anaëlle Dufour on

Absolutely. The football clubs Renaissance Forestoise, FC Forest, Olympique Forestois and Maccabi use four synthetic pitches. They will all be maintained in their current configuration. The same goes for the panoramic cafeteria and the ground‑floor changing rooms. Nothing will change. The amateur complex will remain accessible 100% of the time, even during Union games.

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