Fan-Beteiligung beim HSV: „Unterstützung über die Ränge hinaus“
Hamburg, Germany – April 23, 2026 – The Hamburger SV (HSV) is set to launch a groundbreaking fan ownership initiative known as the “Supporters Trust,” marking the first fan- and member-based investment model for a professional football club in Germany. The initiative, approved by HSV leadership, will allow fans and members to financially engage with the club through cooperative shares, with proceeds directed toward modernizing the Volksparkstadion infrastructure.
The Supporters Trust will hold its founding assembly on May 5, 2026, at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. According to HSV President Henrik Köncke, the trust represents a unique approach in professional football, developed from grassroots member demand rather than top-down corporate strategy. “The Supporters Trust is not born from a drafting table but has grown from the community,” Köncke stated in an interview with HSV.de, emphasizing the initiative’s roots in long-standing fan advocacy for greater involvement in club governance.
Initial funding for the trust will be capped at 100 million euros, with funds earmarked for accelerating the stadium’s expansion to 58,000 seats, with potential future growth to 60,000. Planned upgrades include improved sanitation facilities, enhanced sightlines from the stands, and modernized catering services. These improvements aim to address long-standing infrastructure concerns at the Volksparkstadion, which has seen limited modernization since its opening over three decades ago.
Founding members of the Supporters Trust include prominent figures from HSV’s history and current squad. Horst Hrubesch, a club legend and former Germany international, is among the 100 founding members, alongside current head coach Merlin Polzin and former fan favorites David Jarolim and Collin Benjamin. Current Bundesliga players and club representatives, including Laura Ludwig from HSV e.V., will also participate in the initiative.
Merlin Polzin expressed strong support for the project, noting the immediate sense of unity it fostered within the team. “When the Supporters Trust project manager presented the entire idea to us in the dressing room a few weeks ago, from the mission to the upcoming founding, that feeling of ‘together we achieve more’ was immediately there,” Polzin said in the HSV.de interview. He added that the widespread participation among players and staff underscores a shared desire to contribute beyond the pitch.
The trust will offer a limited number of 18,870 shares at launch, with an initial access window reserved exclusively for HSV members. Following this period, non-member season ticket holders will be invited to participate. Each share requires a minimum contribution of 887 euros, granting holders cooperative membership and indirect stakeholder status in the club’s operations.
HSV officials frame the Supporters Trust as a continuation of the club’s evolving relationship with its supporters, aiming to deepen emotional and financial ties while addressing critical stadium needs. The initiative reflects a broader trend in European football toward fan engagement models, though HSV positions its approach as distinct in its grassroots origins and specific focus on infrastructure reinvestment.
The founding assembly on May 5, 2026, will serve as the official launch of the Supporters Trust, with operational details to follow pending regulatory approvals. Fans and stakeholders are encouraged to monitor official HSV channels for updates on share availability and subsequent developments.
For continued coverage of HSV’s Supporters Trust initiative and its impact on the club and community, readers are invited to share their thoughts and stay tuned for official updates from the club.
