Press and Public Relations Judith Kuhn Tel. (030) 24 002-215 Press release Fax (030) 24 002-189 [email protected] www.stadtmuseum.de 13.07.2017 Hauptstadtfußball 125 years: Hertha BSC & its local rivals

On 25 July 2017, the legendary football club Hertha BSC celebrates its 125th birthday. For the Stadtmuseum Berlin, the anniversary provides a welcome occasion to dedicate a special exhibition to the multi-faceted subject of "Hauptstadtfußball" at the Museum Ephraim-Palais . With a focus on the 's most popular club, football fans and culture lovers can discover fascinating chapters in the story of Berlin as a city and as a sporting capital. As announced in its strategy for the future, the Stadtmuseum Berlin commences its exploration of popular cultural subjects in this current exhibition.

Over eleven chronological chapters, the exhibition relates the history of football in Berlin and the story of Hertha BSC in the context of the city. Forming the centrepiece of the exhibition are around 125 original artefacts linked to football in Berlin dating from the 1870s to the present day. Alongside items from the Stadtmuseum Berlin collection and loaned items from other institutions, visitors can see treasures belonging to private collectors who became involved following a public appeal during the planning of the exhibition. Countless fans contributed ideas and suggestions for the exhibition.

"Hauptstadtfußball" is generally aimed at anyone with an interest in football. Consequently, the three main exhibition spaces are devoted to protagonists beyond the pitch itself. Under the heading "Our team, my team", they explore the emotions and passionate support of the fans, who have been actively involved in the exhibition from its inception to the end. One of the highlights can be found in the museum staircase, setting the mood as the visitors enter the exhibition: Hertha fans worked together to decorate the museum's oval staircase with their banners. In the building's ground-floor lounge, visitors can experience the recreated atmosphere of original apartments occupied by fans of Hertha and Union – where they can also enjoy a round of table football.

The special exhibition explores such questions as: What makes Berlin football, and Hertha BSC in particular, so special? How did football develop into a popular sport in Berlin, and what effect did the partition of have on football in the capital? The exhibition sets out to provide historical answers to these questions and to discuss them in the context of the present – thus depicting the fascinating interplay between the history of football and that of the city. The third

floor exhibition space takes a preview of the future of football: What are the effects of social media and the digital era on the game, and what will fans of the future be like?

Hertha BSC, based in West Berlin, is the number one football team in the city – closely followed by its rivals 1. FC Union Berlin. Though of course Berlin's footballing map encompasses far more than just these two clubs: It consists of more than 400 teams, over 140,000 members of the Berlin Football Association, and is scattered with countless playing fields, football grounds, and fan pubs devoted to all the clubs. The rivalry between Hertha and Union plays a special role in the exhibition because it offers revealing insights into the football scene in divided and reunified Berlin. In addition, key figures in the history of Hertha BSC are presented, including Hanne Sobek, the former star and team captain, the Jewish team doctor Dr Hermann Horwitz, and the legendary Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho.

The exhibition is supplemented by a diverse accompanying programme that includes tours to historic football locations in Berlin and conversations with Hertha legends. Also, related themes outside of the game itself are put up for debate: In our panel discussions, the subjects include the social dimension of the sport. Visitors can browse the Ephraim-Palais musuem shop for a wide range of fan merchandise.

A joint project from the Stadtmuseum Berlin and Hertha BSC under the patronage of the Federal Government Commissioner for Cultural and Media Affairs and the Senator for culture and Europe.

MUSEUM EPHRAIM-PALAIS Adress Poststraße 16 | 10178 Berlin Infoline Tel. (030) 24 002-162 | [email protected] Duration 26 July 2017 to 7 January 2018 Opening times Tue, Thur–Sun 10am–6pm | Wed 12pm–8pm Admission 6.00 / 4.00 Euro | Free admission every 1st Wednesday in the month, and for school classes and children/teenagers up to age 18 with prior notification

Open Day KICK OFF | 26/07/2017 | 12pm to 8 pm | Free admission

Public guided tour ONE-TWO | Every Sunday | 4 pm Admission: 11.00 / 8.00 Euro incl. museum entry

Curator-led guided tours TRAINING SESSION | Wednesdays | 6 pm 09/08 + 20/09 + 11/10 + 15/11 + 20/12/2017 Admission: 11.00 / 8.00 Euro incl. museum entry

Panel discussions BACK FOUR | Fridays | 6 pm 01/09 + 06/10 + 03/11 + 01/12/2017 Admission 5.00 Euro Website www.hauptstadtfussball.berlin