AEK and Olympiacos are locked in intensive negotiations over the temporary use of the SUNEL Arena for upcoming domestic and European fixtures, driven by tight professional deadlines and renovation work at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, according to recent sporting reports.
The Stakes of the SUNEL Arena Negotiations
The ongoing discussions between AEK and Olympiacos center on sharing the SUNEL Arena while renovation work continues at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, commonly known as the SEF.
Without an agreement, Olympiacos faces a severe venue crunch. Alternative international proposals in Belgrade, Sofia, Cyprus, and Crete were swiftly dismissed to avoid overburdening players with grueling travel schedules.
Financial Disagreements and Ticketing Hurdles
Despite the clear urgency, negotiations have stalled over fundamental commercial and technical disagreements. AEK and Olympiacos have not yet finalized terms, held back by persistent friction points.
The two clubs work with different ticketing companies, creating a complicated software and management barrier that requires a technical workaround. Beyond software compatibility, financial compensation per match remains a major sticking point.
Olympiacos typically pays between 25-30.000 euros per match for EuroLeague games, and 15-20.000 euros maximum for Stoiximan GBL fixtures. AEK management reportedly remains unsatisfied with those figures. At the same time, Olympiacos insists on a per-game payment model to maintain the flexibility to modify terms if crowd trouble or security incidents arise.
Regulatory Deadlines and League Pressure
Time is running out for both organizations. The Hellenic Professional Sports Committee enforces a strict deadline that increases pressure on the pending talks. Additionally, the Hellenic Basketball Clubs Association is pushing for a resolution so officials can conduct the league draw, which requires specific scheduling keys if the two rival clubs are to share a home arena.
Renovations at the SEF will not finish early; club projections indicate the venue will remain unavailable until at least January or February at the earliest. If a deal is struck, the arrangement will govern co-habitation through the heart of the winter schedule.
The Larentzakis Transfer Link
The stadium negotiations are deeply entwined with a separate player movement involving Gianoulis Larentzakis.
However, industry reporting notes that the two issues are structurally linked. If the SUNEL Arena lease collapses, Olympiacos is unlikely to greenlight the transfer of the national team guard to their domestic rivals.
