German professional club sets up its tents in Vinschgau. © Stefan Bösl

Former Bundesliga club comes to Vinschgau

Every year, numerous professional clubs make a pilgrimage to South Tyrol for the summer training camp. Now a new destination is being added.

23 April 2024

From: pm/dl

In ice hockey, there has been a partnership between the Latsch-Martell tourist association and ERC Ingolstadt from the top league in Germany for years. Now the football professionals from the Schanz are also coming to Vinschgau. From July 14th to July 21st, 2024, FC Ingolstadt 04 will be completing its training camp at the Latsch sports facilities. FC Ingolstadt 04, current third division team, wants to get the finishing touches for next season. The club, which played in the Bundesliga from 2015 to 2017, wants to return to the 2nd Bundesliga in the medium term.

Test matches on site against a regional selection and a professional team are also planned. Discussions are currently ongoing, as Felix Furtmeier, Head of Marketing and Sales at FCI, explained. The contacts with Latsch came about through the main sponsor and shareholder Audi. Last summer, a delegation from Ingolstadt traveled to Laces to get an idea of ​​the sports facilities. “We have perfect conditions here so that we can prepare for the new season in the best possible way in the summer,” says Furtmeier. The team is staying at the Landhotel Latscherhof.

Great tradition in Latsch

Manuel Platzgummer, sports officer for the municipality of Latsch, is pleased about the commitment from the football professionals: “This will advance sporting development and Latsch will establish itself even more intensively as a sports village. Efforts to bring a professional football club to Latsch have been going on for many years.” More than 20 years ago, professional clubs were always guests in Latsch, including Atalanta, Vicenza and Greuter Fürth.

The Latscher delegation with that from Ingolstadt at the presentation of the deal. © Laces-Martello Tourism Association

David Stocker, managing director of the Latsch-Martell tourism association, also underlines the importance of the training camp: “In addition to the partnership with the ERC Ingolstadt, we can now also welcome the football professionals here. The Latsch-Martelltal holiday area is thus continuing to position itself as a training destination. FC Ingolstadt 04’s training camps and games in Latsch mean a major advertising effect for our holiday region, especially in German-speaking countries.”