Bundesliga outfit SV Darmstadt have announced that, for the 2016/17 season, the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor will be known as the Jonathan-Heimes Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
Darmstadt supporter Jonathan Heimes died in March this year after a battle with cancer, having raised hundreds of thousands of euros for charity. In a tribute to his memory, pharmaceutical company and Darmstadt sponsors Merck have waived their naming rights for the season in order to facilitate the change of name.
Club president Rüdiger Fritsch told the club’s official website that: “Jonathan was a strong companion of Darmstadt’s success. Despite his illness, Jonathan has repeatedly given the team a lot of energy.”
