“Development is a big concern”
Volleyball Bundesliga is heading towards collapse
May 1, 2024, 8:35 p.m
Shortly after the final of the German championship, the Volleyball Bundesliga has to ask itself existential questions. Because several clubs can no longer afford the top division. There are already initial approaches to preventing the collapse.
Golden confetti shower at the end of a hard-fought championship duel, a jubilant triple winner – and great worries about the future. The volleyball players from Allianz MTV Stuttgart have barely lifted the trophy when the women’s volleyball Bundesliga has to deal with the way out of the crisis. “I’m very worried about the development,” said Stuttgart’s sports director Kim Oszvald-Renkema: “We need a crisis plan and have to see how we can get the Bundesliga healthy again.”
Because this has shrunk more and more in recent years. Only ten teams competed this season, and more bad news followed. Last December, VC Neuwied filed for bankruptcy, and a few months later, after more than two decades of continuous membership in the upper house, Rote Raben Vilsbiburg announced their withdrawal from the 2nd Bundesliga Pro due to the economic situation. The cup finalists SC Potsdam are also suffering from financial problems.
“Without a doubt, this development worries me as managing director,” said Daniel Sattler from the VBL: “We have a responsibility, in the interests of competitiveness and the Women’s Bundesliga product, to analyze what is wrong and to take appropriate countermeasures.” If it is not possible to stop the negative trend, the larger clubs such as Stuttgart or SSC Palmberg Schwerin will also be heading for major problems. “The situation is of course threatening for us too,” said Oszvald-Renkema, referring to viewer numbers and sponsors: “If we have no teams and no competition, that is not satisfactory for everyone.”
“Promotion package” is intended to make it easier to establish yourself in the Bundesliga
Especially since a new professional league outside of college sports is currently gaining momentum in the USA. “This is a dangerous league for Europe because they are very financially strong,” explained Oszvald-Renkema. For example, Stuttgart’s Alexis Hart and Kayla Haneline are moving back home. In general, the MTV championship squad is falling apart, only three players remain. But these upheavals are “part of the business” and “not surprising,” said the sports director, who is more worried about the league: “We have this on the agenda for the summer to find solutions together with all the Bundesliga clubs. “
The VBL is working with its clubs to “force the consolidation process and the stabilization of the first league,” emphasized Sattler. They are also aiming for a “package promotion” for the 2025/26 season. Similar to this season with the men, three or four clubs should be promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga Pro at once, for which there should, among other things, be relief and support in the financial area.
“We need teams that are at eye level and competitive with each other,” said the VBL managing director about the advantages of the package promotion: “Doing lonely laps at the bottom of the table ultimately damages the marketing chances of a product locally and is certainly emotionally exhausting. ” It is important “that all measures are now well interlinked and that we develop a semi-professional cluster in the Bundesliga so that locations that do not play for the championship also see a perspective in the league.” And the worries will soon become smaller again.