It was a pleasure, San Antonio!
The Lilien will be in San Antonio from September 25th to October 1st. In this USA diary, we will keep you updated on the trip and SV 98's experiences.
01.10.2026 / English
Sulu becomes Fair Play Ambassador | Böllenfalltorhalle goes wild
A fair-play award featuring Lilies legend Aytaç Sulu, Headis action at the Böllenfalltorhalle, and a successful Lilies team marathon—there is plenty happening at SV 98 beyond the day-to-day routine of the second division. Plus, there are updates on the fan convoy to Nürnberg and ticket sales for the home match against FC St. Pauli. As always, "Lilies Across the Board" brings you all the latest news and stories from life at SV Darmstadt 98.
+++ Aytaç Sulu named new Fair Play Ambassador +++
A premiere at the Böllenfalltor: The Hessian Football Association (HFV) brought its „LOTTO Hessen Fair Play Award“ ceremony to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for the first time. Around 110 guests from the worlds of sports, politics, and society gathered to honour individuals, teams, and clubs for their outstanding commitment to fairness, diversity, and social cohesion. From the perspective of the Lilies, the spotlight was firmly on Aytaç Sulu: the former SV 98 captain was named a new HFV Fair Play Ambassador, alongside Pia Wunderlich and Marcel Friederich. „For me, fair play begins with respect—respect for the opponent, the referees, teammates, and everyone involved in football,“ Sulu emphasized. In addition to the new ambassadors, numerous clubs and teams were honored for fair conduct, civic courage, and social engagement. Managing Director Michael Weilguny attended the event on behalf of SV 98.
+++ Frittenfett wins “Teatime Madness” in Darmstadt +++
Spectacular headers, big names from the Headis scene, and the traditional „tea break“: the annual „Teatime Madness“ World Cup tournament at the Böllenfalltorhalle was once again all about head-based table tennis.
The tournament kicked off with play in eight groups of four. The top two finishers in each group advanced to the upper tournament bracket, while the third- and fourth-placed players continued in the lower bracket. This stage featured another round-robin phase—comprising four groups of four—from which the top two players qualified for the quarter-finals.
Ultimately, „Frittenfett“ from Mainz prevailed to claim the tournament title. Second place went to „Stennis the Mannis“ from Regensburg, while „Karl-Heinz Rumgenicke“ from Mainz took third. From a Darmstadt perspective, „Der unglaubliche Kalk“ achieved the best result, finishing in a strong fourth place.
+++ Lilien Team Marathon a resounding success +++
Clocking up kilometres together, experiencing team spirit, and crossing the finish line at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor: the second edition of the Lilien Team Marathon took place on Sunday (September 27th). Runners of all ages took to the starting line for various distances around the „Bölle“ stadium. For every participant in the adult races, SV Darmstadt 98 is donating one euro to the „Run for ME/CFS“ initiative. The initiative is driven by a group of dedicated Lilien fans who aim to raise awareness of the chronic illness ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and advocate for those affected by it.
+++ Converging Ride to Nürnberg +++
Lilien convoy toNürnberg! SV 98 is picking up fans from across the Lilien region—practically from their doorsteps—to travel to Franconia with the greatest possible support. The journey involves six buses and a group train trip. To join in, simply choose the pickup point nearest you.
+++ Home match against FC St. Pauli on general sale +++
Starting September 30th at 12pm, tickets for the home match against FC St. Pauli are available via the online ticket shop and the stadium ticket shop.
Important: Lilien fans must first log in to the online ticket shop using their personal account details to access the sale. New customers cannot purchase tickets for this match.
2026 Fair Play Award hosted by the Lilies
On Monday (September 28th), SV Darmstadt 98 hosted the LOTTO Hessen Fair Play Award ceremony at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for the first time. During the event, long-time captain Aytaç Sulu was named a Fair Play Ambassador.
Starting Friday: Member pre-sale for Elversberg
On Tuesday (October 27th), the Lilien will visit SV Elversberg at 8:45pm. Advance ticket sales for club members begin on Friday, October 2, at 12pm.
Lilien Journeying Together
Lilien convoy to Nuremberg! SV 98 is picking up fans from across the Lilien region right from their doorsteps to travel to Franconia with the greatest possible support.
Lilien visit Focused Energy in Austin
During their stay in Texas, Volker Harr and Arnd Zinnhardt visited the Austin site of premium partner Focused Energy. At the US branch of the Darmstadt-based company, the two vice presidents gained insight into Focused Energy’s operations and its research into a technology that could make a significant contribution to the future energy supply in the long term.
Matchday!
The Lilien will be in San Antonio from September 25 to October 1. In this USA diary, we will keep you updated on the trip and SV 98's experiences.
Seven goals against partner club
A fitting victory for the Lilies: SV 98 prevailed 7–0 (4–0) against San Antonio FC. Lee, Smit (twice), Duijvestijn, Kehl, El Kadiri, and Herbst scored for the South Hessian side.
An Evening Among Friends
On the eve of a very special friendly match, SV Darmstadt 98 brought together—once again, in San Antonio—all those people who have breathed life into the connection between Darmstadt and its Texan sister city over the past few years.
The Lilies as matchmakers between Darmstadt and San Antonio
SV Darmstadt 98’s partnership with San Antonio has long been forging connections that extend beyond football. This became evident once again on Monday (September 28).
Late penalty stuns Young Lilies
SV Darmstadt 98’s U21 team suffered a 3 – 2 (2–2) defeat against FC Bayern Alzenau in the Hessenliga. In a hard-fought match, the Lilies took an early lead and created several chances to score a third goal, particularly after the break. A late penalty ultimately put the visitors on the path to victory.
Successful second edition of the Lilien Team Marathon
Clocking up kilometres together, experiencing team spirit, and crossing the finish line at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor: the second edition of the Lilien Team Marathon took place on Sunday (September 27). Runners of all ages took to the starting line for various distances around the "Bölle" stadium. For every participant in the adult races, SV Darmstadt 98 is donating one euro to the "Run for ME/CFS" initiative. The initiative is driven by a group of dedicated Lilien fans who aim to raise awareness of the chronic illness ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and advocate for those affected by it.