Schnusenberg travels to Chile to advise on stadium build
10.10.2007
A delegation led by Schalke president Josef Schnusenberg sets off on a four-day visit to South America on Wednesday evening with the aim of sealing a "concrete" contractual relationship with Chilean first division club Deportes Concepcion, who wish to construct a stadium bearing a strong resemblance to the VELTINS Arena.
Like the original, the stadium will hold around 60,000 spectators and is set to be a key element of Chile's bid to stage the Copa America in 2011. "They're clever people. There's no need to re-invent the wheel, after all. And in the VELTINS Arena they've chosen the most modern stadium in the world", said Schnusenberg, who will travel to Chile along with Arena technical manager Ulrich Dargel, Lucia Leal of the club's legal department, consultant Gotthard Sonn and Steven Wilbrenninck, general manager of Dutch construction company hbm, who ultimately built the Schalke stadium.
The journey from Gelsenkirchen to Chile will take a total of 24 hours, 17 of which by air via Zurich, Sao Paulo in Brazil and the Chilean capital Santiago. Along with its neighbouring municipalities the city of Concepcion has a population of just over one million and is situated 500 kilometres south of Santiago. The Schalke delegation is also due to meet Chilean president Michelle Bachelet during their visit, before returning to Germany on Monday.
Explaining Schalke's role, Schnusenberg said: "In association with hbm we will provide them with all the plans and act as consultants." In return for these services we will, of course, be paid a fee.
Just like its big brother in Schalke the Chilean version will also be built on a greenfield site or, to be more accurate, in the desert. The stadium will be the focal point of a complex that will include flats, shops, a sports centre, a swimming stadium and a hospital and is scheduled for completion by 5 October 2010.
