Live updates for the 2026 general meeting

An emotional conclusion to the general meeting: amidst loud and sustained applause, Fabian Holland is named honorary captain. The members in attendance approved the motion to this effect, which had been put forward by the executive board.

Read the full announcement.

Furthermore, the general meeting approved the expansion of the Council of Elders to a maximum of four members, as well as a procedure for filling vacancies during a term of office. Wolfgang Arnold and Prof. Dr. Thomas Spengler were elected to serve until the next elections in 2027—filling the seat vacated by Peter Schmidt, who stepped down at his own request, and an additional newly created position. They join existing members Gerda Krüger and Jürgen Pforr on the council. In addition, the association’s statutes regarding the incompatibility of holding multiple official roles were updated to align with revised requirements within the licensing process of Bundesliga-Gruppe GmbH.

Following this, Markus Pfitzner reads out the names of club members being honored for 25, 40, 50, and 70 years of membership. The president also announces awards in bronze, silver, and gold, recognising athletic achievements, voluntary service, administrative contributions, and the work of those in official club roles.

Amidst great applause, Peter Schmidt—a former member of the Council of Elders—and Ernst Hinkel—longtime head of the table tennis division—are named honorary members in recognition of their service to the Lilien.

The general meeting has confirmed the following individuals as members of the Board of Directors: Frank Friedrich Grossmann, Felix Hotz, Andrea Petkovic, Markus Rusam, Mitsch Schulz, and Frank Wahl. Martin Güldenberg and Thomas Schmidt, who are stepping down from the board at their own request, were bid farewell. Rusam, Schulz, and Wahl have been part of the board since 2017, while Grossmann, Hotz, and Petkovic are new additions.

The next items on the agenda are the report from the finance and audit committee, followed by a discussion of the reports. The members will be asked to grant formal approval (discharge) to the presidium, the board of the sports divisions and the fan and support division, as well as the finance and audit committee members.

He announces the launch of new social media channels designed to increase the visibility of all areas of the club. The goal is to raise the profile of grassroots sports, volunteer work, membership recruitment, and club projects. Furthermore, the new WhatsApp channel—along with Facebook and Instagram—will be used to share stories and highlight the people behind the club, while also communicating the benefits of membership and volunteering.

„It’s all about people who play sports having fun, experiencing a sense of community, and carrying the ‚lily‘ in their hearts,“ says Reinelt-Peter. In this context, he welcomes the Darmstadt Diamonds—along with approximately 100 new active members—into the club: „We are providing a historic club with a new sporting home while simultaneously preserving a piece of Darmstadt’s sports history. In doing so, we are also opening up new target groups for the club.“

Roy Reinelt-Peter, Chairman of the Board for the sports divisions as well as the fan and support division, is now providing members with an insight into the club’s grassroots and amateur sports: “My report today is guided by a simple concept—the same motto I adopted when I took on this role about twelve months ago: to promote amateur sports, engage volunteers, and secure the future.”

The board member summarises the situation: “Today, SV 98’s grassroots sports sector is more diverse, structurally stronger, and closer to its members. And that is precisely what we intend to build upon.” Over the past twelve months, the number of members actively participating in sports has increased by approximately 20 percent.

In addition, the vice president discusses the club’s U.S. initiatives in partnership with San Antonio FC—a collaboration launched in July 2024 that reached a significant milestone with the club’s visit last month. The discussion also covers the past year of the “Under the Sign of the Lily” social campaign, as well as the volunteer award presented by SV 98 in conjunction with the insurance provider Haftpflichtkasse. Special attention is given to the “Lilies of the Heart”—a social project run by SV 98 and premium partner Klöber centered around the team’s home matchdays.

“The Herzenslilien demonstrate the power that emerges when fans, partners, and the club all pull in the same direction.”

To conclude, Harr also reflects on the various sponsor-related events and third-party events that have taken place at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.

Vice President Volker Harr discusses developments within SV 98’s partner and sponsor network over the past few months: “We have succeeded in expanding existing partnerships, acquiring new partners, and increasing our club’s reach. We truly value this trust, especially during these economically challenging times.”

Baumann outlines the 2025/26 year from an economic perspective. Baumann states: „The figures show that we are managing our financial resources responsibly, keeping both our assets and our liabilities in view. That is precisely what our financial policy stands for.“

Anne Baumann now addresses the subject of finance. As of the reporting date, the club holds a bank balance of 8.12 million euros, the executive board member stated: „On the liabilities side, we are concluding the 2025/26 financial year with a consolidated annual surplus of 0.05 million euros. We have thus achieved our goal. We are ending the financial year at break-even—just as we had projected at the previous general meeting. Consequently, the club’s equity has risen to 26.16 million euros.“

Benz now outlines the considerations regarding the restructuring: “We have sat down together on many occasions and developed an idea for how we can organize and accomplish this—financially, legally, and organizationally. We have discussed all these aspects with the aim of turning them into reality in a few years’ time.”

Hanno Benz now takes the stage and approaches the lectern. He expresses his gratitude for the productive and trusting collaboration with the SV 98 executive board: “I have rarely encountered an executive board that leads a club with such passion, while remaining so grounded. This makes working together very easy and pleasant. SV 98 is more than just a sports club; it is a flagship organisation that extends well beyond the city and the region. In many areas, it also assumes social and civic responsibility. We are very grateful that we can count on SV 98 in so many different ways.”

The project is intended to be financed, in part, through grants from the city and the state—initial exploratory discussions have already taken place. Furthermore, a cooperative model is being examined, which would allow fans, members, and sponsors to participate by purchasing shares, thereby facilitating the continued redevelopment of the stadium. The goal is to minimise the need for external debt financing, which would serve only as a supplementary funding pillar. Zinnhardt states: „We believe that we can pull this project off. But we also believe that it must be built upon a stable financial foundation. And for that, we need all of you. Only then will we be able to make this a reality.“

Zinnhardt explained to those present that the construction of a new concrete south stand—featuring over 5,000 standing and seated places—remains under discussion. The inclusion of an additional business area within this new south stand is also being evaluated, with careful consideration given to the needs and concerns of fans. A new north stand could provide approximately 3,500 spaces for both home and away fans. Relocating the away section to the north stand would allow the entire opposite grandstand (the Gegengerade) to be used exclusively for home supporters.

Next up is Vice President Arnd Zinnhardt, who provides insight into current ideas and considerations regarding the redevelopment of the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor. Following initial discussions with the authorities, it appears that redeveloping the south stand—and potentially the north stand as well—along with a moderate increase in capacity to approximately 20,000 spectators, is fundamentally feasible; however, this will naturally require further careful examination.

Fernie concludes his presentation with a few words on the current sporting situation: „It has been a disappointing start to the season. We need to steer our inconsistent form in a positive direction as quickly as possible. At the same time, it’s a matter of patience, belief, and mentality—and of projecting positivity and unity, even during more difficult phases.“

Fernie provides an overview of the current status of the youth performance center and also highlights the importance of the U21 team maintaining its place in the Hessenliga this past season. The Managing Director of Sport is particularly pleased with the new functional building at the center, which has created a „different working atmosphere.“

„We aren’t at the end of the road yet. We still have plenty planned for the youth performance center. But looking at the progress made over the last year, I can say: we are on the right track.“

Fernie addresses the growth of the staff—the team surrounding the professional squad—explaining: „There is frequent discussion about whether our staff is too large. Every member of the staff has contributed, and continues to contribute, to the improvement of our players. We always approach things from the player’s perspective, aiming to create and provide an environment in which every player can develop. We succeeded in this perfectly last season, which is also reflected in the revenue generated during this summer’s transfer window.“

Concluding his retrospective, Fernie addresses Fabian Holland directly, recalling his emotional farewell on the final matchday of last season: „Fabi, you are one of a kind. Over the years, you’ve shown what it means to play here. You have been a role model, a quiet leader, and an absolute Lilien legend.“

In his presentation, Paul Fernie begins by reviewing the 2025/26 season from a sporting perspective. The squad saw only minor changes, the season got off to an almost ideal start, and the team enjoyed a 13-match unbeaten run—followed by a disappointing phase toward the end of the season, which, however, should in no way diminish the overall positive impression of the campaign.

Pfitzner concludes: „We have already experienced many situations and moments that demanded everything we had. We are firmly convinced that we will overcome the current situation through hard work and unity. For all of us, this club is family—it is home. Let us draw strength from our unity and fight for the club together. Now, more than ever.“

„Our fans were held for over 8.5 hours. From our perspective, the question of proportionality arises,“ said Pfitzner. „We will support our fans and look into these incidents.“

Pfitzner also provides insight into the current summer transfer window, during which the Lilien have generated record revenue: “To a certain extent, we rely on bringing in transfer proceeds.” He notes that more than two-thirds of the net transfer revenue has been reinvested directly into the sporting side of the club: “Moving forward, we will continue to strive to provide the sporting department with the maximum possible resources, within the scope of our capabilities.”

Pfitzner makes an appeal: “The culture of this club—that’s all of you! As long as we maintain that together, success will return. Our superpower is our unity. Let’s debate and discuss things, but always with an eye toward how we can contribute energy to this club.”

He emphasises: “As the executive board, we have complete confidence in those responsible for the sporting side. Both have done outstanding work and have a strong track record. We aren’t here tonight to sugarcoat the situation. However, we know that in three days, we have another chance to win a home game. We cannot simply argue away the current reality, but we are convinced that we have the potential to get back on the right track.”

Markus Pfitzner now addresses the current situation: „This is precisely the right moment for us to come together. However, our task—both as the executive board and the management—is to remain calm and keep the long-term perspective in view. I can sense just how highly the Lilien nare valued within the city; that is a vital part of our success. We have a single compass by which we steer our decisions: the long-term viability of the club. We are committed to living up to that responsibility.“

291 voting members are present this evening at the Böllenfalltorhalle. President Markus Pfitzner welcomes those in attendance. This is followed by the approval of the agenda, a tribute to the deceased, and the election of a meeting chair. Dr. Thomas Schröer is confirmed by those present to serve as the meeting chair.

The entire professional squad of the Lilien, along with the coaching staff, will be present at the Böllenfalltorhalle to listen to the reports.

The SV 98 general meeting begins at 6:30pm. We will provide updates on the evening’s proceedings in this live feed.