Season opening with 3500 Lilien fans

When the stadium opened at 4:30pm, the stadium grounds filled with visitors, and numerous Lilien fans took the opportunity to purchase the new away jersey, unveiled that morning. More than 20 food and beverage stalls enticed fans with culinary delights and a variety of interactive activities. From chili con carne to healthy bowls to the classic stadium bratwurst, there was something for every taste.

The stadium grounds offered numerous opportunities to get active. Whether it was Krombacher box kick, HAIX soccer minigolf, the goal-scoring competition with the soccer ID team, or Merck’s human table soccer, everyone could demonstrate their skills. Sports skills were also in demand at the Headis table and table tennis, while exciting duels took place on the console in eFootball. The judo department also delighted visitors with demonstrations and exercises for them to try out on the mat.

At 5pm, the players, sporting their new away jerseys, entered the Merck Stadium for a public training session. This was accompanied by a highly anticipated draw: 30 lucky Lilien members were selected to take to the pitch themselves and play an unforgettable match under the guidance of Gerhard Kleppinger and Elton da Costa. Head coach Florian Kohfeldt, sporting director Paul Fernie, and vice president Markus Pfitzner also answered questions from stadium host Colin Mahnke.

While Kohfeldt and Fernie reviewed the preparations so far and also discussed the new signings, Pfitzner used the festive setting to make a special announcement: 18,980 club members! That is SV 98’s ambitious goal for the season. You can find all information about the membership campaign here. 

Following the professional training session, all fan festival attendees were given a small taste of the highlights SV 98 club members can look forward to. The randomly selected members competed in the „home jersey“ and „away jersey“ teams. While the players prepared in the players‘ tunnel, Alberto Colucci created a lively atmosphere in the stadium. Naturally, the Lilien anthem was also included. Afterwards, the members‘ game kicked off to thunderous applause. The home jersey team ultimately prevailed 4-2.

Gerhard Kleppinger, coach of the winning team, was very pleased with his team’s performance: „It was great fun with this diverse group. I’m very pleased; my team did very well. And of course, it was nice to be on the pitch for a few more minutes myself.“

And Elton da Costa also clearly enjoyed himself: „For me personally, it was wonderful to be able to coach a fan team in this stadium. For the players, it was a unique opportunity, and everyone enjoyed the moment immensely.“

At the end of the eventful day, the players mingled with the fans. They were available in pairs throughout the stadium for autographs, photos, and personal conversations. A few players even ventured to the promotional booths themselves, generating additional excitement among young and old. Around 9pm, the atmospheric prelude to the upcoming season came to an end.

SV Darmstadt 98 would like to sincerely thank all visitors, volunteers, and partners who made this event possible and so special.