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PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT WINTER 2013/14


ESSMA at work


Tamás Szekeres, Budapest FTC stadium, thinks ESSMA is a great approach to keeping abreast of the stadium business. Here he explains why. PLUS: a report from ESSMA’s recent Head Groundsmen event in Portugal.


ESSMA interview: TamAs Szekeres, Budapest FTC stadium


Can you tell us something about your background?


Before I started as Development Manager at Budapest FTC, I worked for the Hungarian Football Federation for three years, where I was appointed as Technical Director. I started there immediately after I ended my 17-year professional football career. Now I’m in charge of all different kinds of developments at the most popular Hungarian club FTC, for example for the youth centre and the new stadium.


How did you end up at Budapest FTC stadium?


Ferencvaros is my mother club. I played 15 years for the club, so I have a lot of friends and connections there. The club and the club’s President started lobbying on a political level for a new stadium back in 2011. As you might suppose, a lot of resources are needed. The fi nal decision (made at the end of 2011) is that the state will fi nance the project completely. The stadium will become the home ground of Ferencvaros.


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I travelled through Europe for two years to gain a lot of information, visit new stadiums, attend conferences and meet stadium operators. I think ESSMA as an organisation is a great approach. As a newcomer in the stadium industry I learned a lot at ESSMA conferences, got information about the newest trends in stadium operation and could build up a diversifi ed network. In combination with my background and experience as a football player and member of the national team, I am now able to make good analyses of what innovations and approaches are really necessary. I also exactly know what the club’s needs are.


What’s the current status of the project?


The concept and business plan are about 95% ready. We were fully aware of the operational concept during the design process and our aim was to create a sustainable and effi cient stadium. I work closely together with a project management company that is appointed by the state to supervise design and construction and to facilitate the building permit.


How urgent was it to start with the plans?


You see, the old stadium was built in 1974. In recent years it wasn’t really maintained well by the state. The stadium conditions were unworthy for such a big and traditional club like Ferencvaros, so there really was a high need for a new stadium. Ferencvaros rented the old stadium like a ‘user only’, but this time the club intends to become more like a good trustee instead of just a tenant of the new stadium. Ferencvaros will pay a yearly fee to the state for the use of the stadium.


How did you convince the state?


It’s obvious that the stadium infrastructure is generally very poor in Hungary and good facilities are very much needed. The club’s fi nancial background is a long way from being able to fi nance huge infrastructure projects like building a new stadium. The present government is committed to investing in sports infrastructure, especially in football stadiums. Ferencvaros is the biggest, most popular and successful


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