The former Champions League winner VfB Friedrichshafen can no longer afford to take part in the volleyball premier class. The German runners-up announced their withdrawal from the most important European competition on Wednesday. “Due to the additional costs for renting external halls, the expenses for the European premier class can no longer be shouldered,” the club said: “The European association did not respond to VfB’s request to hold the games with a special permit in the Bodensee-Airport Arena met.” VfB managing director Thilo Späth-Westerholt called the withdrawal “extremely bitter for our coaches and players, but also for all of volleyball Germany” due to the otherwise six-figure additional costs. The economic situation “with the renting of a foreign hall” like the Ratiopharm Arena in Neu-Ulm does not allow any other decision.
With the closure of the ZF Arena at the end of 2020, VfB became homeless. Friedrichshafen had to rent halls in the past two years, while Hangar R at the airport was converted into the Bodensee Airport Arena. The home ground is sufficient for Bundesliga and cup games, but does not meet the requirements for the Champions League. Among other things, the continental association CEV requires a spectator capacity of 2500, which the VfB in its hall is significantly below (1000). Späth-Westerholt also announced cuts in the squad: “We are relying on a young and ambitious team for the coming season, which will now focus entirely on the championship and the cup competition.”
