Road to the World Cup

Focus: Hamburg, Berlin

Two more cities and you’re good to go. One, the home base of Team USA, the other, the host of the Final. Here’s your ultimate guide to Hamburg and Berlin.

Hamburg
Hamburg’s state-of-the-art AOL-Arena is ready and waiting. Starting in 1998, the stands of vintage Volksparkstadion were pulled down so the playing field could be veered around. As soccer was still being played in the process, not all four stands vanished at once. Instead, fans sitting in the old west stand for awhile were looking across at the brand-new east stand. In the course of reconstruction, all areas of the stadium, including VIP and media facilities, were modernized and all of the AOL-Arena’s 40,000 seats (World Cup capacity reduced from 51,000) are now roofed. In all, the new venue, which was opened in 2000, cost the sum of †97 million (approximately $120 million). Money well spent, it appears, as the AOL-Arena was one of very few stadiums to receive five stars from FIFA. Among the teams playing their group matches in Hamburg will be Costa Rica, Argentina, Italy and the Czech Republic.

Come June, though, Hamburg will really be home to two World Cup stadiums. With its 50,000 seats and an 80 sq ft big screen, the “Fan Stadium” on Heiligengeistfeld will serve as the city’s official public-viewing area. Here, fans without tickets will be able to smell World Cup air while watching all the matches live and free of charge with many other soccer nuts. Before and after each final whistle, a colorful supporting program—featuring interviews, musical performances and more—will take place on a central stage area. Right next door, the “Fan Park” will host the Beach Club with its international dishes as well as a fish market, foosball tables, human foosball and other activities. Both Fan Stadium and Fan Park are part of the “Fan Fest” and will be located near the world-famous Reeperbahn with its pubs, clubs and red-light establishments.

But that’s far from all Hamburg has to offer to fans looking to kill some time. Around the lake Außenelster, visitors will be able to learn about lesser known sports and even give it a go for themselves. Everyday from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m., instructors will be standing by to introduce new trends and explain what to look out for. After an exhausting few hours of speedminton and bailong ball, catch a late ferry and enjoy the impressive view of Hamburg by night from the water. A MultyVoiceSystem is available onboard, offering various languages including English.

Some of Hamburg’s most popular pubs and eateries are Fischerhaus, Friesenkeller, Brauhaus Hanseat, Gröninger Braukeller, Hamburg City Beach Club, Tower Bar and East Hamburg. To dance the night away, check out Bunker and Kaiserkeller.

Berlin
Four years of renovation and modernization of Berlin’s Olympiastadion finished in 2004, turning the historic venue into a first-class soccer temple. Stiftung Warentest, Germany’s well respected organization for product testing, last year criticized an alleged lack of safety. However, it later applauded the stadium’s operators for their reaction, as important changes were made in subsequent months. The Olympiastadion being under monumental protection, its outward appearance was never significantly altered. Nonetheless, the sum of † 240 million (approximately $300 million) was invested to turn it into today’s all roofed 56,000 seat jewel (World Cup capacity reduced from 74,000). Like in Hamburg, all renovation and modernization took place parallel to Bundesliga soccer. The Olympiastadion is part of one of the world’s most impressive athletic facilities, as it was originally built for the 1936 Olympics.

Frustrated you didn’t get tickets for the Berlin group matches of Germany, Brazil and the likes (or even for the final)? Then the capital’s version of the “Fan Fest” might be just the thing for you. Right in front of the historic Reichstag building, a “Mini Olympiastadion” will offer seats and live big-screen viewing to approximately 10,000 fans. Soccer won’t be the only thing fascinating the masses here, though, as the Black Eyed Peas and James Blunt have confirmed concerts. Outside the stadium, numerous soccer fields and stage areas will be ready and waiting to make the time between matches worthwhile. The Mini Olympiastadion will be located near the official “Fan Mile” between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column, where some 90,000 visitors are expected everyday.

A good way of killing some time between matches will be Berlin’s numerous soccer-related exhibitions, highlighting, for example, the history of the beautiful game and its relationship with the media. Inside the sports hall Sportforum, an exhibition on the renovation of the Olypmiastadion will help visitors understand both the master plan and the little steps needed to make it a reality. Of course, the German capital also offers many chances to take a break from heated soccer battles. For example, the boulevard Unter den Linden is an international shopping hotspot, and so are the department stores of the mall KaDeWe on Kurfürstendamm and Tauentzienstraße. Finally, don’t forget to go on a sightseeing tour of Berlin, as its history is among the richest of all European cities.

Three of the German capital’s most popular pubs and eateries are Konnopke, Ständige Vertretung and Zwölf Apostel. At night time, celebrate your team’s victory at one of the city’s dancing hotspots. Knaack, Magnet Club and Matrix are among the favorites.