If they could, they would make Anne Castroper an honorary citizen of Bochum. But they can’t. This Anne is not a woman, but a preposition. VfL Bochum plays in the Ruhrstadion “anne Castroper” – in standard German: on Castroper Straße.
Anne Castroper is a standing term in Bochum. Local fans have been finding football happiness on the main street of the same name since 1911, and in the Ruhr Stadium since 1979. The glow of the four antiquated floodlight masts can be seen from far and wide in the sky during evening home games. In December they are reminiscent of an oversized Advent wreath.
The stadium is in the middle of the city, closely surrounded by houses. However, such urban charm makes expanding the mostly sold-out 26,000-seater arena impossible. The club regrets this because it is missing out on millions in additional revenue due to a lack of VIP boxes and a higher business seat contingent.
The fans don’t care. It didn’t matter to them that their VfL hadn’t won its first five home games this season. Anne Castroper is actually a self-confident and controversial figure. But if people don’t even win in the old concrete block of the Ruhrstadion anymore – then perhaps a new building on the outskirts of the city would be necessary?
Papperlapapp! After the club swore at the general meeting last week that they would never play anywhere other than on Castroper Straße, the unleashed team immediately followed up with their first home win in a 3-1 win against Wolfsburg. It was an act of liberation.
This was also recognized by the fact that Patrick Osterhage scored his first Bundesliga goal, the Brazilian Bernardo scored his first VfL goal and Christopher Antwi-Adjei scored his first goal of the season. Amidst the ceremonial exuberance, a mysterious cloud formation in the shape of a saint appeared over the stadium. It wasn’t the Virgin Mary. It was the silhouette of Anne Castroper.