BERLIN (AP) — Fans of German soccer team St. Pauli have taken over as majority owners of their club’s stadium.

The Bundesliga club said on Thursday that a fan cooperative raised some 29 million euros ($33.5 million) by offering shares to become part-owners of Millerntor Stadium.

“This means the heart of the club now officially belongs to the cooperative — and thus to its members,” St. Pauli said in a statement. “With the takeover of the stadium company, a crucial step has been taken to secure the future of the Millerntor permanently in the hands of the FCSP community.”

St. Pauli is a part of Hamburg that includes its famous red light district. The soccer club of the same name is known for its left-wing fans. The pirate skull-and-crossbones synonymous with the club was popularized by sup

See Full Page