RC Strasbourg to give Meinau Stadium a freshen up

Daniel Sedlarevic23/06/2023 6:05 am24/06/2023

Image credit: RC Strasbourg

Major stakeholders of RC Strasbourg attended a meeting which was held in one of the stadium’s hospitality sections, when it was announced that construction on the Meinau Stadium’s redevelopment and extension had begun.

As Ligue 1 is dominated by Paris Saint Germain, it is a wise decision by the city and club to invest into their stadium to keep fans interested and excited in supported their club. RC Strasbourg have not seen domestic success in recent times with their only league title being back in 1979, while the club finished only three spots above relegation in last seasons Ligue 1 competition.

Many parts of the city supported the club in their pursue of stadium upgrades. The Grand-Est Region, the City of Strasbourg, the European Community of Alsace and the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg (up to $123 million), the European Community of Alsace (up to $30 million), and RC Strasbourg (up to $14 million) all contributed to the project’s total cost of $260 million. RC Strasbourg will also provide an additional $23 million towards the development of commercial areas.

Beginning in June 2023, work will be carried out on extending the South stand. It will then proceed with the redesigning of the South and West stands and the construction of the Fan Zone will begin (from summer 2024 to summer 2025), the redesigning of the North and East stands and the completion of the Fan Zone (from summer 2025 to summer 2025).

“We are very happy to announce the launch of the work together, we know the importance of this project for our territory and for the influence of our city. This stadium is a unifying marker of our territory,” Pia Imbs, President of the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, stated via press release.

Finally, the redesigning of the East stand and the installation of the lawn (from the start of 2026 to the summer of 2026), for completion in the summer of 2026. The final capacity will hold 32,000, with the stadium’s seating capacity to never drop below 19,000 while construction is active.

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Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

Patrick Irving16/04/2026 8:55 am16/04/2026

Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

Marie-Louise Eta makes history as new Union Berlin head coach

Patrick Irving15/04/2026 6:05 am14/04/2026

Image credit: FC Union Berlin

In an historic appointment, Eta will take over as head coach of Union Berlin until the end of the season.

History in the making

Previously the first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history with Union Berlin, Eta will now take the reigns of the men’s first team on an interim basis.

Currently, the club sit in 11th place in the Bundesliga table, but with only two wins so far in 2026, relegation appears an all-too-real prospect, and one which the club is desperate to avoid.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” said Eta via official media release.

‘I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.”

Eta will begin as Union’s new head coach with immediate effect, and will be in the dugout for the club’s matchup against Wolfsburg this weekend.

A step into an equal future

Eta’s appointment signals a major step towards a more level playing field in the football landscape.

Furthermore, Eta joins other coaches including Sabrinna Wittmann, Hannah Dingley and Corinne Diacre who, in recent years, have blazed a trail for female coaches to step into the men’s game.

Wittmann currently manages FC Ingolstadt in Germany’s third division, and was the first female head coach in Germany’s top three divisions.

In 2023, Dingley became caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers, and thus the first woman to lead a men’s professional team in England.

Diacre, now head coach of France’s women’s national team, managed Ligue 2’s Clerment Foot between 2014 and 2017.

Final thoughts

The impact therefore, is that Eta’s appointment will show future generations of aspiring female coaches that men’s football is an equally viable and possible pathway as the women’s game.

The time is now to level the playing field.

And while it may be a short-term role, its effect on attitudes towards equality and fair opportunities in the game will hopefully resonate long after the season ends.