A new building at the Merck youth performance center is planned to create modern conditions for players and coaches from 2026 onwards.
Darmstadt. SV Darmstadt 98 is strengthening its youth development program with a significant infrastructure project: A new modular building Merck Youth Performance Center (NLZ) on Kastanienallee . The modern facilities will replace the existing container complex. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026 , with completion expected in the summer of the same year.
“The construction of the new functional building shows that we at SV 98 want to further expand our youth development program,” says President Markus Pfitzner . “The new home on Kastanienallee is intended to offer more modern conditions for players, coaches and staff and underline the importance of youth development at SV 98.”
The two-story new building will offer seven changing rooms including shower rooms, sanitary facilities, and technical rooms offices, administrative rooms, and meeting rooms for the staff of the youth performance center will be created.
The estimated construction costs are around €1.5 million net , plus additional costs for furnishings and ancillary construction expenses in the low six-figure range . The project is financially supported by public funding .
- Science City Darmstadt: 605,000 euros
- State of Hesse: 200,000 euros
- Hessian State Sports Federation: 19,500 euros
The grant awards were presented on Thursday, November 6, 2025 , by Digital Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus and Mayor and Head of Sports Hanno Benz during a press conference at the NLZ.
The club first presented the construction project at the 2025 general meeting . With this new building, SV Darmstadt 98 is sending a clear signal for the long-term development of young talent and the strengthening of its youth academy .
Further information: www.sv98.de
(Darmstadt - Red/SV98)
