STVV Eagerly Awaits Season with European Football, Completing Stadium Upgrades

Excitement is building in Sint-Truiden as the football club STVV prepares for a new season, set to kick off Saturday, which includes the highly anticipated prospect of European football. Following an exceptional performance last year, the club's home ground, Stayen, has seen substantial modifications to meet the standards required for European competition.

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That is a lot of money, but the old ones needed replacing anyway.

Key upgrades include the installation of new seats throughout the entire north stand, replacing older ones with low backrests. The south stand, designated for visiting supporters, is still under construction and expected to be completed by the end of the season. These changes aim to enhance the stadium's facilities and capacity for the demanding schedule ahead.

Significant investment has been made to bring Stayen up to par with European regulations. The club's owner, Roland Duchâtelet, reportedly spent around €600,000 on stadium adaptations. This included the costly replacement of seats and the renovation of dugouts, which alone exceeded €80,000. Brand manager Bert Stas noted that while the costs are high, the upgrades were necessary and improve the stadium's overall condition.

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There are many requirements to consider, but at the same time, you bring your stadium up to standard. It's all about perspective.

Beyond the seating and dugouts, other areas like the entrance have been modified to comply with European standards. Temporary measures are in place for visiting fans, who will be seated in a section of the east stand, separated by a fence, with an adjacent section kept empty as a buffer zone. A separate entrance for visitors is also being constructed this week, along with a net to prevent balls from reaching the nearby train tracks. Stas humorously mentioned that train passengers might soon have a clear view of the matches from their seats.

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For now, visitors are in section K of the east stand, separated from the rest by a fence. Section J will remain empty during matches to serve as a buffer.