New thermal baths, renovation of the Art Nouveau monument, expansion of the Hochwald Hospital – there is no shortage of large-scale construction projects that are already under construction or will soon be tackled in the spa town.

Another could be added in the next few years: we are talking about a new ice rink, which will replace the ice rink in the Kurpark, which is in need of renovation and modernization.

A kind of multifunctional arena with a hall and stadium is planned, which is to be built on the southern outskirts of the city.

More precisely: on the edge of the floodplain between Bad Nauheim and Friedberg.

After the corresponding plans have been submitted to the political bodies, the city council is now to make a fundamental decision in favor of such a million-dollar project at the meeting on Thursday.

The magistrate and building committee have already approved.

Wolfram Ahlers

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for central Hesse and the Wetterau.

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Of course, this is only a kind of first step that does not yet imply implementation.

If the city councilors agree to the proposal, the magistrate should first prepare a draft resolution for a later development plan.

Furthermore, the magistrate is to be commissioned to negotiate with the owners about the acquisition of the land required for the construction of the stadium and to conclude option contracts accordingly in order to secure the site.

At the same time, a concept is to be developed as to what will happen to the area of ​​the previous stadium at the Kurpark and how it could be used.

Poor parking situation, outdated ice system

It would be a farewell to one of the oldest German ice rinks, which opened around three-quarters of a century ago with one of the largest artificial ice surfaces in Germany at the time.

The father of the Bad Nauheim ice stadium was the then commander of the American occupying forces, Colonel Paul Rutherford, who pushed through the building against all reservations and resistance in the time of shortage shortly after the war.

After the outdoor facilities and grandstands were completed, the construction of a powerful ice hockey team began, which in the jersey of VfL Bad Nauheim was later one of the leading teams in this sport in Germany for many years.

In the 1970s, the stadium was expanded to meet growing demands, the ice surface was given international dimensions,

Today, however, one can hardly speak of a modern stadium.

The home games of EC Bad Nauheim, which continues the tradition of VfL Bad Nauheim, are usually well attended in the second German ice hockey league, and the ice in the arena is also popular with many recreational skaters outside of training and competitions.

However, there are a number of shortcomings that are difficult to reconcile with the requirements of a future-oriented ice hockey stadium.

For example, there is not enough space for training, the ice rink is outdated and the parking lot situation is unsatisfactory.

Against this background, there have been discussions about a change of location with a modern stadium for some time.

Initially cherished plans

Building a new building on the site of a former body shop on the southern outskirts of town fell through, not least because no investor could be found and the city could not handle the project on its own.

The old location was preserved, and the city once again put a lot of money into the renovation of this sports facility.