Fans to return to the Olympiastadion!
Fans to return to the Olympiastadion!
It’s what everybody has been waiting for – Bundesliga football with the fans in full voice. The Hertha players got a first taste of this atmosphere last Tuesday (25.08.20) in Amsterdam, where around 6,000 supporters were allowed to watch the friendly match between Hertha and AFC Ajax under social distancing rules. The players were quick to recognise the value of the fans: “It was great to be able to play in front of fans again. It felt like a pretty normal atmosphere, even with the fans socially distancing in the stands. We’ve missed that a lot!” said goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, expressing his delight at the return of the fans. “There was finally some noise coming from the stands,” added Niklas Stark. “It just makes sense to play in front of the supporters, and it’s more fun, too.”
Fans’ return made possible thanks to infection prevention measures and a well thought-out concept
Hertha’s fans will now be able to enjoy the start of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season in person at the Olympiastadion. The home opener against Eintracht Frankfurt takes place on 25th September (20:30 CEST) and fans will be welcomed back to the stadium for the first time in 202 days. This is all possible thanks to Berlin’s Covid-19 measures, which allow gatherings of up to 5,000 people starting from September. Hertha are also grateful to the external experts and relevant authorities who have worked with the club to develop a plan for the safe return of fans. Hertha will welcome around 4,000 fans for this first match under the floodlights, alongside the various players, coaches, referees, journalists, club officials, security staff and other helpers who make a match possible. “During talks with the relevant authorities and the federal government we have received positive feedback about our detailed concept, and we can now look forward to our first home game in front of our fans,” said Thomas E. Herrich (business director for Hertha BSC, and responsible for developing a concept to allow the return of fans.)