Press conference "The whole city a stadium"
At today's press conference, Dr Clemens Maier, Mayor of the City of Stuttgart for Security, Order and Sport; Philipp Lahm, Tournament Director of UEFA EURO 2024; Markus Stenger, Managing Director of EURO 2024 GmbH; Host City Ambassador Cacau; Andreas Kroll, Managing Director of in.Stuttgart Veranstaltungsgesellschaft; and Thomas Pollak, General Project Manager of Host City Stuttgart, gave an insight into what Stuttgart residents and visitors can expect during UEFA EURO 2024 this summer.
"There is great anticipation for UEFA EURO 2024. We are a sports city, and the enthusiasm for football in our region is enormous," says Dr Clemens Maier, Mayor for Security, Order and Sport. "Football is a team sport. A similar team effort is also needed to prepare for this major international event. I’m convinced that the football fans who come to our city will feel at home here and will be able to enjoy a brilliant European Championship atmosphere. We will send a cheerful and peaceful image of Stuttgart out into the world," states Dr Maier.
Stuttgart can look forward to five matches in the arena at UEFA EURO 2024 and is also hosting the Swiss national team in the Team Base Camp. The Swiss team is preparing for the tournament by staying in the Waldhotel in Degerloch and training in the Waldau Stadium, but it will not be playing its preliminary round matches in Stuttgart. In addition to the German team, the national teams from Belgium, Denmark, Scotland, Slovenia and Hungary will also be playing in Baden-Württemberg's state capital – as per the draw held in Hamburg at the beginning of December 2023.
"We're still waiting to see who will come to us as the winner of the qualifying group B play-off," says Dr Maier. Israel, Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ukraine will be battling it out on 21 and 26 March for a place at UEFA EURO 2024. "We look forward to each of these teams and their fans," says Dr Maier
Tournament Director Philipp Lahm: "I see great enthusiasm!"
For Tournament Director Philipp Lahm, UEFA EURO 2024 is more than just a football tournament. "Football connects and brings people together, whether in the stadium or at a fan festival," he says. "I see a great deal of enthusiasm in Stuttgart and the other host cities. In this day and age, it is important that people come together again and celebrate together." However, he is particularly looking forward to the Trophy Tour, which starts next Friday, 22 March, in front of the New Palace. The trophy, which he unfortunately was never able to win himself, will be presented in Stuttgart, and people will be able to take photos with it. Markus Stenger, Managing Director of EURO 2024 GmbH, believes that preparations for the European Championships are going well in all cities. "Stuttgart had a clear plan right from the start and has implemented it perfectly," he says, confirming that he believes the state capital of Baden-Württemberg to be on the right track. Host City Ambassador Cacau shares this view: "Stuttgart will be well prepared for UEFA EURO 2024. But above all, the football atmosphere in the city is really good, partly thanks to the current situation with VfB Stuttgart."
Three sponsors support football enthusiasm in the host city
Under the motto "The whole city a stadium", there will be a big football festival of encounters and enthusiasm in Stuttgart. Three local companies and partners will play a special role as local sponsors, as in.Stuttgart Managing Director Andreas Kroll explains: "With Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH as the official tourism partner, Südwestrundfunk with its SWR3 programme as the media partner and Stadtwerke Stuttgart, we have three local sponsors by our side who offer us widespread support and whom we would like to thank very much for their commitment." A fourth sponsor is yet to be determined. "We are holdings positive talks with UEFA and hope to have the details agreed in a few days."
Stuttgart as the start of the Trophy Tour through all ten host cities
With the kick-off of the Trophy Tour from 22 to 24 March 2024 in Stuttgart, the host city, together with UEFA and EURO 2024 GmbH, is setting the next milestone on the road to the European Football Championships. "We are very pleased and proud to be the starting point of the Trophy Tour's journey through all ten host cities and that people from the region will be able to get close
enough to touch the trophy," says General Project Manager Thomas Pollak. On Friday, 22 March, Lord Mayor Dr Frank Nopper, Tournament Director Philipp Lahm and Host City Ambassador Cacau will launch the symbolic kick-off on Schlossplatz. On Saturday, 23 March, the trophy will be on display in the Königsbau building from 10 am to 8 pm. In collaboration with the Württemberg Football Association (wfv), the trophy will be presented for the final time on Sunday, 24 March, at the district league clash between SpVgg Cannstatt and TSVgg Münster in Stuttgart.
From Football Inclusion Day to the Stadium of Dreams
The great journey to UEFA EURO 2024 in Stuttgart continues in the coming weeks: on 5 May 2024, a Football Inclusion Day will be celebrated in the heart of the city, focusing on the colourful diversity of disability football. From 16 May to 9 June, the Stadium of Dreams invites you to Marienplatz in the south of Stuttgart – a large playing field for culture dedicated to the themes of education, Europe and football in a European context. The programme will be organised by Stuttgart institutions and admission to the events is free. Participants include the Volkshochschule adult education institute, the Pop-Büro Region Stuttgart, the Lokstoff theatre and the Office for Sport and Exercise. An exhibition on Jewish football stars is also in preparation under the motto "Kicker.Kämpfer.Legenden".
Together with the Stadtpalais, there will be an interactive exhibition from 17 May to 14 July 2024 featuring legendary football moments from the national teams playing in Stuttgart. The focus is on seven historic European Championship matches and the socio-cultural characteristics associated with football in each case. The exhibition will appeal to adults and children alike; additional play elements with soft footballs will help ensure this, enabling active participation. The football stories of the individual countries will be told in German and English on large player-like displays.
The EURO 2024 Festival with four fan zones
With a major festival in the heart of the state capital, Stuttgart is giving the European Football Championships the home it deserves: cosmopolitan, innovative
and full of passion. "We are the only host city to present four fan zones in the city centre that are closely connected to each other, a short distance apart and with a great offer for everyone," states Thomas Pollak.
The central meeting point for fans is the public viewing area at the Schlossplatz Fan Zone, surrounded by the New Palace and the Königsbau building. Before "King Football" moves into the EURO 2024 FESTIVAL at the Schlossplatz Fan Zone in Stuttgart city centre, the stage belongs to four international superstars and top artists: on Thursday, 13 June 2024, Robin Schulz, Leony, Le Shuuk and Topic will provide an atmospheric start to the EURO 2024 FESTIVAL STUTTGART OPENING CONCERT.
From 14 June, around 30,000 fans will be able to watch and celebrate the opening match between Germany and Scotland in Munich live for the first time at Schlossplatz – almost all of the 51 UEFA EURO 2024 matches will be broadcast on two large screens (144 and 63 square metres), which will provide a good view of the action.
When there's a break from the football, performances for all age groups by well-known artists from the pop to schlager genres, as well as a "Best of Stuttgart" with the SWR Big Band, the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra and the "Füenf", will provide an attractive supporting programme. "There's something for every taste," says Pollak. Two further match-free days also have a special theme. On 7 July, there will be an emergency services day under the motto "We save your life", where security and emergency services will be in the spotlight and will provide insights into their daily work. On 13 July, Stuttgart will celebrate a big family day on Schlossplatz under the motto "Kids Day". Guests at the public viewing will find a wide range of catering options at 17 stands with regional, vegetarian and
vegan offerings.
There is also a lot going on in the other fan zones. The Marktplatz Fan Zone offers space for Activities & Family. A Football Court invites you to play football as well as to enjoy other sporting opportunities in the outdoor activity area, including scoring against a football wall and exercise activities. The indoor activity area features a Creator Studio, games consoles for e-sports,
table football, Bolzbox football and a mini-museum. A multifunctional room will be available for interviews, lectures and workshops.
For all those who want to put football aside for a few moments, the Karlsplatz Fan Zone offers a space for culture and music. Various programmes from the fields of music, dance and theatre will be performed on a cultural stage. A chill-out area with cosy seating invites you to rest awhile. And if you feel like playing football again, you can compete with others on the beach football field. Karlsplatz will also be the location of the "Fans Welcome and Fan Embassies", where fans from all over the world can meet each other. Stuttgart volunteers will also meet here.
The Schillerplatz Fan Zone is all about Regional Food & Drinks. It offers all football fans the opportunity to try out and appreciate typical Swabian specialities, vegetarian and vegan dishes. Numerous other activities spread throughout Stuttgart will turn the entire city into a stadium. They will give UEFA EURO 2024 the setting it deserves: international, cordial and full of enthusiasm for an unforgettable sporting event.
All four fan zones will be open daily from 12 noon to midnight during UEFA EURO 2024, and until 11 p.m. on non-match days. Admission is free at all venues – except for the opening concert on 13 June.
Stuttgart – a one-two between tradition and modernity
The state capital of Baden-Württemberg is looking forward to welcoming many guests from Europe and will present itself as cosmopolitan yet devoted to home. The European Championships is much more than just a football tournament. Stuttgart has long enjoyed a global reputation as a high-calibre business location. Thomas Pollak, General Project Manager of Host City Stuttgart,
comments: "Sustainable change and innovative thinking go hand-in-hand here with tried and tested methods and practised tradition. History can be written on and off the pitch in Stuttgart."
It is important that, despite all the joy and excitement of a unique football spectacle, the outlook goes far beyond the pitch. Sustainability and social responsibility are an integral part of all planning for this major event. The focus is on the use of renewable energies, sustainable mobility and a professional waste disposal concept for minimising waste. Stuttgart has also created a human rights and awareness concept specifically for UEFA EURO 2024 with the aim of enabling inclusion and barrier-free, easy access for all. Former national team player and Host City Ambassador Cacau agrees: "We can and want to build bridges through football, fascinate people through football and make the European Championships a unique experience."
A special project was designed and implemented by the sustainability department. It is aimed at the youngest target group and explains UEFA EURO 2024 to children in a small, colourful picture book. The title: "Bobbl at the European Football Championships in Stuttgart". The "Bobbl" ball takes centre stage. He is the hero of the story and leads the children across the host city to the stadium – with happy encounters and experiences along the way. Together with Cacau, the children are also shown what kit you need as a footballer. The Pixi book is being distributed free of charge to kindergartens and schools and is available at the i-Punkt.
Volunteers – the friendly face of our city
1,600 volunteers are supporting Host City Stuttgart in making UEFA EURO 2024 an inspiring football festival. In keeping with the motto "Mittendrin statt nur mit dabei" (Don’t just be there, be part of it), the highly motivated and specially trained volunteers will present Stuttgart in all its diversity. As ambassadors for the host city, the volunteers will be on hand to offer help and advice to guests from all over the world. In the fan zones, at transport hubs or in the media centre. With their helpfulness and friendly demeanour, they will help to create a welcoming culture in Stuttgart that is as warm as it is unique.
