EURO 2024 Festival
Fan Zone Berlin
Football fans from all over Europe were invited to experience a unique festival in celebration of the Euro 2024 in Berlin. Visitors could make their way to the breathtaking Fan Zone Berlin, where they could take advantage of large-scale public-viewing opportunities at the world’s biggest football goal, but also enjoy a pop-up park and a comprehensive programme of cultural events and entertainment as part of the FUSSBALLKULTURSOMMER.
After two-and-a-half years of planning, which involved the efforts of a team of roughly 13,000 on-site workers in the fan zones, 24,000 m² turf, one special goal post, one special gate, two new event venues, 8,470 metres of construction fencing, 56,000 metres of cable, 647 toilettes, more than 500 deck chairs, 41 complementary drinking water fountains, 15 sunscreen dispensers, 16 video screens, 51 matches and artists from roughly 20 nations, the outcome was an extraordinary month of shared excitement and joint celebration.
The Fan Zone Berlin consisted of two key sites located close to one another: the Fan Zone Brandenburg Gate functioned as a temporary park and stage for large-scale public viewing, while the Fan Zone Reichstag acted as the heart of the 31-day festival.
Fan Zone Reichstag
The space in front of the Reichstag is known as the Platz der Republik, and this was where all 51 matches of the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship were shown live. The entire area functioned as a meeting point for football fans from all over Europe. On the nine days when no matches were played, the Fan Zone Reichstag offered a family-friendly programme of cultural events and entertainment, including concerts, readings, talks, workshops, DJ sets, shows and much more. These events focussed on a diversity of themes, including sustainability, diversity, inclusion and magic. There were also events organised specifically for children and families and offered in cooperation with partners on-site at the Fan Zone Reichstag. For example, visitors were invited to test their sporting skills in a number of activities on a football pitch. The Fan Zone Reichstag was also the meeting place of the “Future Hub”, a brand-new future league founded on the occasion of the EURO 2024. This association of various initiatives focuses on themes of sport, inclusion and sustainability and organised workshops and talks in cooperation with the Berlin Senate Department for the Interior and Sport.
Fan Zone
Brandenburger Tor
On the occasion of the EURO 2024, the Brandenburg Gate was transformed into the world’s largest goal and functioned simultaneously as the screen and backdrop for Berlin’s traditional large-scale public viewing. And because every football goal needs a pitch, a massive green turf was rolled out in front of the gate, transforming the entire area along the Straße des 17. Juni into a pop-up park. It was the perfect place for anyone looking to go for a jog, take a stroll or just sit down and relax. And it was also a great spot for football fans, Berliners and guests from all over the world to come together. On five summer evenings when no matches were played, the huge screens showed football-themed films, with Berlin film critic Knut Elstermann discussing the movies in advance with prominent guests drawn from film and sports. There were also be concerts, performances and much more.
„Best Practice Award“
Sustainability as a guiding principle
Over 80% of the structures and materials used were rented and will now be funnelled into the circular economy by means of a meticulous reutilisation concept. This includes the turf, which will be re-used in the coming months at sporting facilities, football pitches, schools and childcare facilities throughout Berlin.
The fan-zone concept was also characterised by a focus on social sustainability, including safeguarding concepts, accessibility and services for all types of visitor groups. In addition, no form of disposable packaging was used anywhere in the fan zone, and all food and drinks were served based on a deposit system of reusable tableware. It was the first time this approach was used for an event of this size. Over the entire month, this focus on sustainability made it possible for the organisers to save 24 tonnes of garbage and over 100 tonnes of CO2. In recognition of this innovative approach, the NGO known as Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) awarded Kulturprojekte Berlin and the Host City Berlin its “Best Practice Award”.