Project history
Framework planning
Building on the update of the "Sportpark Soers" framework plan presented in 2016, the city of Aachen is aiming to further develop the sports park into an open anchor point for all athletes in Aachen and the entire region. Central components of this development include a municipal multifunctional sports hall and a planned equestrian sports hall of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e. V. . In addition, further sub-projects and accompanying sports infrastructure are planned, which will open up the sports park to the general public and make it even more attractive for the wider population. The expansion will be made possible by giving up the area of the old police headquarters in Hubert-Wienen-Straße, which was identified as critical for further planning back in 2016. This represents a unique opportunity for the development of the Soers sports park and is creating a great spirit of optimism among the stakeholders involved from the city administration, clubs and committed athletes in the region. Building on this, the city of Aachen is now applying for funding in the setting of the Rhenish mining district together with the local clubs and the Stadtsportbund Aachen e. V. (Aachen Municipal Sports Association). The common goal of sustainably strengthening sport in the region and throughout the entire Rhenish mining district - and above all across the board - is the main focus.
Updating the framework plan
Workshops were held together with the local sports clubs and sports facility operators to discuss the further development and optimization of the sports areas as well as the external image of the sports park. However, the planning also focused on the areas north of Eulersweg and east of Krefelder Strasse, including the city entrance in the north. The political committees decided that the current plans should form the basis for the further urban development of the area.
The Soers sports park is one of the most important current urban development projects for the city of Aachen. The construction of the new Alemannia stadium and its proximity to the ALRV stadium was used a few years ago to develop the existing sports facilities together with the new Tivoli into a joint sports park. One of the aims was to take advantage of the proximity of the two large clubs in order to achieve synergies through the joint use of space. In addition, the Krefelder Straße area was to be given a design appropriate to its function as an entrance to the city. The structural redesign of the area has now been completed for several years.
Spacious grounds
The focal point of the sports park is the new square area between the soccer stadium, Krefelder Straße and Albert-Servais-Allee. The renowned Hamburg office WES & Partner has created a design that includes a spacious square with large-format slabs, which is broken up and structured by three tree islands. The highlight of these tree islands are the seating steps created by the fact that the square slopes down towards Krefelder Strasse. The tree islands are virtually predestined to serve as a meeting point before and after sporting events. Just in time for the inauguration of the stadium, the square was "completed" by the then Lord Mayor Dr. Jürgen Linden and handed over for its intended purpose.
The Klostermann company, manufacturer of the concrete slabs used here, believes - as do many citizens - that the execution was very successful and has therefore documented the construction project in a brochure.
Reconstruction Krefelder Straße
The package of measures also included the reconstruction of Krefelder Straße, which in particular improved the arrival and departure of ASEAG buses before and after matches and tournaments. Many fans already took the bus to Tivoli at the old stadium. A bus stop area was built along the entire length of the forecourt to ensure that the bus service also runs smoothly in the new, larger stadium. Further optimization measures, which give buses priority over car traffic, were implemented along the entire length of Krefelder Straße. Of course, fans wishing to leave in a northerly direction after the match have also been given an enlarged bus stop on the east side of Krefelder Straße. Similar to the old stadium, it is now possible to get there via a pedestrian bridge independently of road traffic.
Pedestrian bridge
The pedestrian bridge - developed by a consortium of Aachen offices (engineering office Berg & Partner, Hahn Helten Architekten and the office of Prof. Hegger) - is the "icing on the cake" in the Soers sports park. Unlike the existing, more functional bridge, the new building is designed as a landmark that can be seen from afar as the entrance to the city and at the same time as a landmark of the Soers sports park. The 65 m high pylon, from which the curved structure is supported, serves this purpose.
After approximately 14 months of construction, the bridge was handed over to the public by Mayor Marcel Philipp on June 29, 2012. The bridge was thus completed in time for the CHIO. This is particularly significant because the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV), organizer of the CHIO, made the construction of the bridge possible through its sponsorship, which had been called into question several times due to rising costs. Accordingly, the structure now bears the name "CHIO Bridge" and was given the logo of the horse show.