Next step in the modernisation of sports facilities: Grass pitch becomes beach volleyball and mountain bike area

“We are delighted to support this project. Sporting facilities such as these create spaces for community, physical activity and personal development, and represent an important investment in the future of young people,” says Thomas Simon, Managing Director at Groeneveld-Beka, representing the Timken Foundation. 

A particular emphasis is being placed on sustainable implementation. The sand required for the new beach sports facility is being reused. At the“Summer Feeling at the University Beach” event, it was already used between 13 and 26 June 2026 as the foundation for a variety of sporting activities. These included the German University Beach Volleyball Championships, the Bavarian Beach Cup in beach football, and several other university sports tournaments. Following the event, the sand was transported to the sports grounds, where it is now being used for the new beach sports areas.

“The combination of modern sports infrastructure and the sustainable use of resources is of central importance to us,” emphasises Professor Tim Ströbel, Director of BaySpo (Bayreuth Centre for Sport Science). “With these new sports facilities, we are creating attractive opportunities for physical activity for our students while also sending a strong signal in favour of responsible and sustainable action.”

The three new competition-standard beach volleyball courts and the mountain bike trail will in future be used for teaching, university sports programmes, and a range of other events. They complement the modernisation measures already underway and will help ensure that the sports landscape at the University of Bayreuth continues to develop in a future-oriented and versatile manner.