New sports campus project: 10.5 million euros for a modern sports hall!

New sports campus project: 10.5 million euros for a modern sports hall!

On June 20, 2025 the University of Vechta the opening of their new sports hall with a spectacular sports and summer festival. The investment of around 10.5 million euros is part of the numerous construction projects on the newly created sports campus and aims to improve teacher training in Lower Saxony as well as sports studies at the university.

The new hall shows particular attention to sustainability: a photovoltaic system on the roof supplies the building and covers 17% of the energy needs of the entire campus. The celebratory event attracted over 120 invited guests and included a blessing by cathedral captain Rudolf Büscher. The interim president Prof. Dr. Thomas Bals highlighted the importance of this project for the region, while Prof. Dr. Tina Cornelius-Krügel addressed the need for modern sports facilities. The smooth progress of the construction project was praised by Markus Zysk, a representative of the State Construction Management North-West.

Public festival and fundraising run

A highlight of the opening ceremony was the “Athletes Against Hunger” charity run, in which 450 participants took part with great enthusiasm. A total of 6101 laps were completed. The youngest participant, Hanno Schröer, was only two years old, while the oldest runner, Manfred Ostendorf, was also there at 82 years old. Mateusz Bienkowski took the lead and ran the most laps with 88. Manfred Ostendorf expressed his wish to repeat the event next year.

The sports and summer festival offered a varied program with hands-on activities, skill games and musical entertainment. A sensory course, interactive “Rox Pro” training and waste separation games ensured that both sports enthusiasts and families had an entertaining day. These different activities aimed to create a connection between fun and awareness of sustainability.

Sustainability in focus

The discussion about sustainable sports facilities is a central topic that is becoming increasingly important. Based on move4sustainability.com The focus is on environmentally friendly materials and energy efficiency in new buildings. The new sports hall in Vechta shows how such principles can be put into practice. 

In order to minimize the negative impact on the environment, sustainable approaches to the construction of sports facilities are required. This not only includes the use of renewable energies, but also the consideration of social aspects such as accessibility. Innovative solutions, such as the Green Stadium in Potsdam-Babelsberg, can serve as an example of how sports facilities can be designed sustainably.

The successful start of the new sports hall at the University of Vechta is a sign of the institution's commitment to both education and sustainability. By combining public interest and sporting activity, a sustainable contribution to university and regional development could be made.