New venue planned for the Niners' Bundesliga basketball team

A new venue for the Niners' Bundesliga basketball team is to be built on the outskirts of Chemnitz city center. The aim is to open the new season there in September 2030, said Managing Director Steffen Herhold. It has not yet been possible to put an exact figure on the costs, which are said to be in the double-digit millions. Herhold: "It can't be done for 20 million euros." It is not just a modern hall for the Niners, but a sports and cultural campus with a variety of uses. There is also talk of concerts, theaters and musicals with up to 11,000 visitors.

The planned location is an area behind an office complex at the Karl Marx Monument. In order to pave the way for the project, Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) and Lord Mayor Sven Schulze (SPD) have signed a letter of intent that provides for the exchange of corresponding plots of land. The next step is a feasibility study, which should be available by the middle of next year. In addition to urban planning issues, the study will also examine whether a multifunctional hall is economically feasible. The opinions of residents are also being sought via a participation portal.

Kretschmer: Niners are the "team of hearts"

The project itself will reportedly be implemented by the private sector. According to current plans, no state funding is planned for the implementation. "If things turn out differently, we'll have to talk about it," said Kretschmer. The city hopes that the project will revitalize the center, which is struggling with the announced closure of the Galeria department store. "Urban development spans generations and must be carefully considered," emphasized Kretschmer. He spoke of a major step for the future of Chemnitz.

The Niners currently play their home games at the Chemnitz exhibition grounds on the outskirts of the city. They have been playing in the Bundesliga since 2020. They won the Fiba Europe Cup in the spring. Kretschmer described the team as a "team of the heart". The new building is intended to create a modern venue that also meets the future requirements of the German Basketball League and international match operations.