The sports center on the Flensburg campus is getting a fresh start. The fitness center and courses will stay open, and will be aimed exclusively at students and staff of Flensburg's two universities.

The decision to redesign the sports center arose when occupancy lease for the sports center building was canceled on March 31, 2023 by förde show concept GmbH. "The cancelation was for us quite sudden," explains Stephanie Brady, Chancellor of Europa-Universität Flensburg (EUF). "However, the tenancy cooperation had not been running smoothly for some time, and we were also facing usage restrictions due to upcoming modernization and expansion work at the FlensArena. One room had already been completely withdrawn from use. We took the cancelation as an opportunity to redesign the sports center."

After the cancelation, university management had planned to close the CampusFitness® fitness center - a move that led to great unrest among members of both universities. "Students and staff members really appreciate the opportunity to work out in the fitness center at any time, alongside campus courses," explains Stephanie Brady. "So we've been looking for a solution that would enable us to provide an attractive program even in a reduced space."

The search for solutions produced results: the CampusFitness® fitness center and sports courses will stay open. Space restrictions caused by the cancelation and renovation measures mean that some courses will be dropped from an overall smaller number of courses. This semester the sports center is offering 79 course hours, as compared to 91.5 course hours last semester.

In exchange, however, the center is extending its opening hours. The new opening hours will run from Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The opening is planned for the week after Easter.
 

The reorganization also means that the fitness center and sports courses will be restricted to students and staff of EUF and the Flensburg University of Applied Sciences; visitors from off campus will not be able to train there. "In the reduced space, priority has been given to students and staff members" explains Chancellor Stephanie Brady. "Due to the higher ancillary and personnel costs, we would have had to increase rates for external users. That have been hard to explain, given the reduced space and impending usage restrictions."

"We know that university sports connected the campus to the city" the Chancellor further noted. "And therefore we deeply regret this reduction in our services. But we're pleased to be able to maintain the course program and fitness center for university staff members. In this way, we can fulfill our mission to sustainably promote and secure the health of young adults and strengthen campus life through appropriate (exercise) resources."