Aachen, Germany Buys Stadium Of Fouth-Tier Football Club Alemannia For €1

Aachen, Germany has purchased the Tivoli Stadium, which is the home of fourth-tier side Alemannia Aachen, for €1 ($1.13), according to SPIEGEL ONLINE. It means from now on the city has to pay the stadium's operating costs, interest and repayment of €1.6M ($1.8M) annually -- and not the club. City Department Head Lothar Barth said that part of it will be covered by the stadium's rent income. He added that this "would leave a six-figure amount for the city if everything goes as we think." The Union of Taxpayers in North Rhine-Westphalia "criticized the purchase." In case Alemannia gets promoted the stadium rent "would increase, for which the taxpayers would pay dearly." Should the club play in the 2nd Bundesliga, the city "would write a 'red zero,'" with maximum costs of up to €100,000 ($113,000). The €46M stadium, which opened in '09, "was the cause of Alemannia Aachen's financial problems" (SPIEGEL ONLINE, 1/28).