2nd Bundesliga: VfL Bochum imposes a ban on jumping in the east stand

As part of the planned modernization measures at the Ruhr Stadium, the vibration behavior of the standing step elements in the east stand was “reexamined in detail,” it was said. The engineering firm commissioned discovered that certain spectator movements caused strong vibrations, which could lead to discomfort, mainly in "untrained" stadium visitors.

According to the report, the stand's load-bearing capacity is given, "but the joint, rhythmic hopping or jumping, i.e. synchronized movements of many people," leads to a so-called "trampoline effect" that can cause discomfort. It was said that the Bochumer Sportstätten Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH (BoSB), as the stadium owner, had been ordered to avoid this burden in the future.

The Bochum building supervisory authority initially set a “ban on jumping” for the east stand as an alternative to blocking it. According to the club, this means that from the upcoming game against Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday (1.30 p.m.; TV: Sky) in blocks N2, O, P and Q, communal, synchronized, rhythmic hopping and jumping movements are "strictly prohibited". This doesn't affect the goal celebration, just "choreographed jumping."

Violations would “immediately result in significant consequences,” including the complete closure of the stands. The Bochum team therefore “strongly” appealed to their fans. "VfL regrets the unavoidable measures, but is relieved that the east stand can be used at full capacity if the hopping ban is adhered to," it said. The renovation of this area is already part of the modernization measure, so that the hopping ban can be lifted at the end of the planned renovation work in 2028.