Excelsior Rotterdam is blending fan engagement with long-term infrastructure development by hosting an Open Day and announcing a new training complex. The club will hold its annual Open Day at Woudestein on Sunday, August 30, the day after the city derby against Sparta, while also revealing details of a new training facility in Hillegersberg-Schiebroek. This was reported by dehavenloods.nl.
The Open Day allows supporters to meet players and learn about the club's community work. It features football games, bouncy castles, face painting, food stalls, and tours. General director Daan Bovenberg highlighted the day's significance. "A player kneeling down for a photo with a child. A father pointing out where he stood with his father years ago." he said. The club no longer needs to sell season tickets during the event, as there is a waiting list of about five hundred people.
What are the plans for the new training complex?
Excelsior will get a new training accommodation in Hillegersberg-Schiebroek. Construction will happen in two phases. The first phase includes preparing the site, football fields, and parking lots. If everything goes according to plan, this part should be ready in October. More time is needed for the main building. The project is in the final detailing phase before the permit process can begin and more concrete timelines can be outlined.
Initially, the complex will be the training location for the men's professional squad. Later, the club hopes to also accommodate the women's team and the highest youth teams there. The aim is to concentrate as much football technical knowledge in one place as possible. This is being done in collaboration with Neptunus-Schiebroek. The Excelsior Foundation will also organize activities from the new location. The site is seen not only as a training complex but also as a chance to increase the club's social impact in that part of Rotterdam. The complex does not yet have a name; suggestions are welcome.
How is Excelsior performing on the pitch?
These future plans come as Excelsior has had a mixed start to the season. The club is 10th in the Eredivisie with 3 points from 2 games, with a recent form of loss and win (LW). They have scored 5 goals and conceded 2, for a +3 goal difference. In the title race, they trail leaders AZ Alkmaar by 6 points. The next fixture is an away match against Willem II on September 5, a team currently 16th in the table. Player David Garden is currently sidelined with an injury. Fans can follow the latest standings and statistics on our standings and stats pages.
What does this mean for the stadium and the women's team?
Work is also being done on the future of Woudestein. Plans for a new stadium, combined with housing, have progressed. The Rotterdam city council has approved the ambition document for the project. This does not mean construction will start soon; many steps still need to be taken. With the new city executive board, the further elaboration and implementation of the plan will be examined. Excelsior is simultaneously investigating short-term possibilities, including whether the capacity of the current stadium can be further increased within existing frameworks.
A new period is beginning for Excelsior Vrouwen. The women's team was relegated last season, along with two other clubs. Sportingly, this was a significant setback. According to Bovenberg, this also creates space to re-examine the organization. A number of license requirements from the Eredivisie Women no longer apply. This allows Excelsior to make more choices about budget allocation. The club gains more influence over the kick-off times of home matches. The main task for the coming season is to investigate how to establish a sustainable model for women's football within Excelsior.
The club remains committed to the city. "The Foundation remains our social face in the city. With that, we show that our role goes beyond football alone," said Bovenberg. Activities range from walking football and daytime activities to after-school lessons, street tournaments, and football clinics in neighborhoods. For the elderly, there is Voetbal Memories. Excelsior aims to be more than just an Eredivisie club that plays at Woudestein every two weeks. The coming weeks, with a key away fixture scheduled, will show how the plans off the pitch align with ambitions on it. For the current squad and injury news, the squad page is up-to-date.
