Union Berlin and rebellion as an attitude

Despite all opposition, the Bundesliga club Union Berlin is planning a full stadium from the new season. That suits a club that also sees rebellion as a business model. What is it exactly?

AOn the last matchday, after the 3-0 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf, the footballers of 1. FC Union Berlin climbed onto wooden tables and applauded those fans who had gathered behind a fence in front of the stadium for their team, even in corona times to support. From outside and of course in compliance with the distance rules. If the Bundesliga club wishes, the spatial distance between professionals and spectators will soon be over. In the coming season, the Berliners want to start playing at full rank at home in the Alte Försterei in the coming season, i.e. from September 18. Then there will be 22012 people in the stadium, as before the compulsory interruption, which forced the professional clubs to play without spectators.

Close together. Side by side. They should cheer and clap, lie in their arms and drink beer together, in the worst case from the same mug. The 1.FC Union calls this “stadium experience”, “irresponsible” the “Tagesspiegel”. The sheet that appeared in Berlin was not the only one. How quickly a heated debate can spark in the pluralistic media landscape of the capital could be seen only in the comments, which ranged from approval to complete rejection. Pretty much all newspapers these days cite anyone who has anything to say about the at least ambitious proposal with which 1. FC Union Berlin went public.