All those who remember the summer of soccer in 2006 are hoping for a repeat. Back then, during the home World Cup, the Waldstadt was all about soccer - even without hosting a World Cup team. Even then, the euphoria was boundless. Iserlohn hosted the biggest public viewing in the region in fantastic weather and experienced a very special summer fairytale in the middle of Sauerland. A repeat is planned for the beginning of June, this time as a real Team Base Camp city. The reigning two-time European champions from Italy will then be guests at the Seilersee.
"It's really exciting and a huge opportunity for our city to present itself to the outside world and be a good host," says Iserlohn's mayor Michael Joithe at the Hemberg Stadium, which is still under construction. Where the Squadra Azzurra's training sessions will take place from June 11th, the finishing touches are still being applied everywhere. The last tracks of the brand new turf are being laid, and the standing and seating areas are shining in new splendor almost 50 years after the opening of the Hemberg Stadium. "It's all set. Iserlohn should be multicultural, open to guests from all over Europe, but I also hope that all of us Iserlohn residents and people from the entire region can celebrate a very special party in the city center and on Alexanderhöhe," Joithe continues. It won't be a question of the outfit, as almost everyone involved in the third and final European Championship press conference on Monday, May 27, wore soccer shirts. Joithe and sports office manager Christian Kißmer wore the azure blue of the Italian national team, Mike Kowalski, public viewing organizer of Stadtwerke Iserlohn, the new German jersey. Thousands will follow their example in the coming weeks.
Unlike in 2006, the Iserlohn public viewing will not take place in the city center, but in the "Heimatversorger-Arena" on Alexanderhöhe. "Benvenuti al Rudelgucken" - this is the motto under which we want to attract as many guests as possible for almost all German and Italian European Championship matches. There is room for up to 5,000 people, who can enter the grounds from two hours before kick-off," says Kowalski. Online tickets for the public viewing are now available in advance for 1.50 euros via the website www.em24-iserlohn.de, the central information portal of the Waldstadt for the upcoming European Championships. Catering will of course be provided on the Alexanderhöhe, and everything can be paid for by EC card or with the "Stadiondeckel", a payment card to which a credit can be added at the entrance. VIP tickets are also available. They cost 99 euros per evening and allow access to a reserved area including food and drinks. They are also sold online. All visitors should park in the city center and then walk to the top. This makes more than sense anyway, as the starting point for all public viewing evenings is the Old Town Hall Square. Either a free pre-game show starts there before every public viewing evening or one of the many major events of the Iserlohn event summer takes place, in which the pre-game shows are then integrated in the form of concerts. "After the pre-game shows, you can then make your way to Alexanderhöhe with a 'Fuß-Pils' or 'Lauf-Bier', stop off at one of Iserlohn's restaurants or visit the privately organized public viewing on the parking deck at B&U," adds Christian Kißmer.
If Germany and/or Italy reach the round of 16, there will be public viewing and a shooting festival on Alexanderhöhe at the same time. All discussions between the city, the Stadtwerke and the IBSV have been finalized and will be communicated in good time. There will be no joint admission ticket for the shooting festival and the public viewing. A separate ticket will be required for each event.
The first highlight of the Italian national team's "Team Base Camp" will be the Squadra Azzurra's public training session on June 11. So far, the city of Iserlohn has received almost 11,000 ticket requests, only 2,800 tickets can be passed on to guests as paper tickets. A further 1,200 tickets will be given to UEFA and the Italian FA. Admission to the Italians' first ever training session will be possible from 3.00 pm, with the session itself starting at 4.30 pm. There will be no parking spaces at Hemberg on the day of the event, and the road to the stadium will also be closed. The city will communicate further details on possible traffic restrictions for local residents or affected schoolchildren in the coming week at the latest.
Few details are currently available about the "Casa Azzurri", the Italian house and press center in the Matthias Grothe Hall in Iserlohn. As the city is not the organizer, but merely the landlord of the property, it is primarily the Italian association that is communicating here. "A public viewing of the Italian matches is planned, as well as concerts and other events. Access is primarily by invitation only," continues European Championship project manager Christian Kißmer. Further information on this will also be provided as soon as it is made available to the city.
There are also numerous other events in Iserlohn city center and Letmathe. These are mainly organized by the advertising associations or the city sports association. From the "Sauerland Evening" in the Volksgarten on June 13, to the Wine Summer from June 27 to 30, to the live theater play "La Poesia Andiamo" on July 14, there will be something for everyone. "We probably won't see anything like this again," says Volker Hellhake, 1st Chairman of the Iserlohn advertising association.
Iserlohn City Marketing will also be offering multilingual city tours, photo points, colorable pennants for the little ones and Iserlohn EM merchandise.
The event overview in detail:
Saturday, June 8, Willi-Vieler-Stadion in Iserlohn-Oestrich
Airpitch - KiTa-European Championships
Here the little kindergarten kickers compete against each other in airpitches and play for the mini championship.
Tuesday, June 11, Hemberg Stadium
Public training session for the Italian national team
Thursday, June 13, market square
"Thursdays at the market"
All visitors to the city center can look forward to a musical and sociable evening.
Thursday, June 13, Letmath Volksgarten
"Sauerland evening" with Airpitch
Sauerland specialties and a varied entertainment program as well as the possibility of small duels on the airpitch.
Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15, from approx. 5 p.m., Alter Rathausplatz
Pre-game show
Friday, June 14 to Sunday, June 16, Fritz-Kühn-Platz
32nd Peace Festival with "Martin Luther King" musical on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 15, city center
Iserlohn sports club day
With large sporting equipment, lots of shows and action, a colorful hustle and bustle awaits all visitors to the city center, inviting them to try out and participate, to marvel and stroll around. A total of 21 Iserlohn sports clubs will be taking part - from archery to gliding.
Wednesday, June 19, from around 5 p.m., Alter Rathausplatz
Pre-game show
Thursday, June 20, Market Square
"Thursdays at the Market"
All visitors to the city center can look forward to a musical and sociable evening.
Thursday, June 20 to Sunday, June 23, Alter Rathausplatz
Italian market "Benvenuta Italia"
Numerous food stalls will bring Italian delights to Iserlohn and there will also be a table football tournament at this event. As an exception, the European Championship match between Spain and Italy on June 20 will not be broadcast on Alexanderhöhe, but on the Old Town Hall Square as part of the Italian market.
Saturday, June 22, Schillerplatz
Airpitch Inclusion Tournament
Thursday, June 27 to Sunday, June 30, city center
"Weinsommer - Wald Stadt Dolce Vita"
Inner-city meeting place to chat and enjoy with Airpitch. Sunday open for business!
Thursday, June 27, market square
"Thursdays at the market"
All visitors to the city center can look forward to a musical and sociable evening.
Saturday, June 29, Schillerplatz
Airpitch course
Sunday, June 30,
Sunday open for business
Thursday, July 4, 4 to 9 p.m., Marktplatz
"Thursdays at ABENDMarkt"
Live music, enjoyment, crafts and exhibitions come together here and offer international flair at this edition of the European Championships. To mark the occasion, this year's evening market will be enriched by various activities for the whole family on the theme of the European Championships. By the way: If you would like to participate with a stand, please contact the city marketing department(stadtinfo@iserlohn.de)!
Friday, July 5 to Monday, July 8, Alexanderhöhe
IBSV Schützenfest
Saturday, July 6, 4 p.m., Hemberg sports hall
52nd International Music Parade - IBSV
Saturday, July 13, 6 p.m. - 2 a.m., below the Seilerseebrücke bridge
Bunt am See - Bella Ciao Open Air
Sunday, July 14, city center
"La Poesia Andiamo"
Cultural live act - venue to be announced.
All information about the European Championship days in Iserlohn can be found at www.em24-iserlohn.de.
Photo: Looking forward to the European Championships in Iserlohn (from left to right): Volker Hellhake and Kathrin Becker (1st and 2nd chairpersons of the Iserlohn advertising association), Julia Steiner (board member of the Iserlohn advertising association), Mike Kowalski (Events, Stadtwerke Iserlohn), Matthias Quaschnik (cultural officer of the city of Iserlohn), Mayor Michael Joithe, Christian Kißmer (EM project manager) and Thomas Stoltmann (sales manager, Stadtwerke Iserlohn).
