After the Bundesliga game between Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen was canceled at short notice, the decision on whether to host the northern German football club’s next game remains open. The day after the encounter collapsed, structural engineers inspected the roof membrane in the Volksparkstadion, which had been affected by condensation, for damage.
When asked on Wednesday afternoon, it initially remained unclear whether the fourth cancellation of a Bundesliga game would follow within a few days. The Hanseatic League’s home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach is on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky).
A structural engineer assessed the situation as a safety risk
Dents had formed on the roof membrane of the stadium due to the accumulated condensation caused by the heavy snowfall. Stadium director and authorized representative Daniel Nolte explained this point load problem in more detail in front of TV cameras: “A load then forms in one place, not all over the roof. The membrane then bends downwards. And the danger is that the membrane could tear.” The so-called “catwalk” circulation system attached to the roof structure could come loose in the worst case scenario.
A structural engineer assessed the situation as a safety risk, whereupon the game was canceled at short notice just two and a half hours before kick-off.
The catch-up date for the HSV game against Leverkusen is still open. The situation is likely to be made more difficult by the fact that the club from the Rhineland is still represented in the Champions League and the DFB Cup.
Food went to those in need
After the Bundesliga game on Tuesday was canceled at short notice, the northern German football club donated some of the food prepared for the game to aid organizations. Liver cheese and fish rolls as well as baked goods were quickly loaded into vans for distribution, the HSV announced one day after the game was canceled.
In total, 750 people were reached and cared for at facilities such as the Hamburg Warming Room, the Bahnhofsmission and the Hamburger Tafel. “After the game was canceled at short notice, it was clear to us that we had to act responsibly and pass on the prepared food to support other people,” HSV board member Eric Huwer was quoted as saying.
