Union must exile to Leuven and play in Düsseldorf, a heavy cost

While Union supporters await Thursday night's kickoff, the Belgian club is preparing to play its « home » in Düsseldorf against Beer Sheva, a decision that already adds to the cost of the Europa League campaign.

A fourth European home in five seasons

As in 2022‑23, Union will contest the Europa League at Den Dreef, its fourth European stadium in five seasons. This continuity shows that the club has had to adapt to capacity and standard requirements that are not met in its own stadium.

Costs that exceed revenues

According to CEO Philippe Bormans, organising this « relocated » match in Germany will cost more than it will generate, especially with the absence of a high‑profile marquee like last season. The club will not be able to rely on clubs such as AC Milan, Juventus, Marseille or an English club to draw crowds, unlike the 2023 campaign which gathered 17 000 spectators at Lotto Park.

The cost of renting the stadium in Düsseldorf would be around €125 000, far from the €250 000 paid per match to Anderlecht for the Champions League the previous season. Added to this are additional moving, security and catering expenses.

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For the match against Celtic, the only one to kick off at 21 h, Union sold 6 700 tickets out of the 8 000 seats available, including 3 200 mini‑season tickets. Six hundred supporters of Real Sociedad will also be present, the remaining seats being reserved for UEFA.

The club chose OHL's stadium in Leuven after the draw, a pitch already known from the first campaign under Karel Geraerts. This time, management opted for a venue with a larger capacity, but the constraint of three kick‑offs at 18 h45 complicates logistics.

Philippe Bormans notes that convincing the owner club of Den Dreef, the mayor and the police zone was essential to obtain the agreement. The national stadium remains an option, but proximity and atmosphere requirements weigh in the decision.

In summary, Union must juggle UEFA requirements, high costs and the lack of a true « home » in Europe, a challenge that highlights the price of participating in continental competitions for Belgian clubs.