thatcham red Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Four board members of the Bristol City Supporters Club & Trust went on a fact-finding mission to see Union Berlin last week. This article records Miles Hendy's experience and asks what lessons can Bristol City learn about Union Berlin's recent stadium redevelopment ahead of Ashton Gate's likely redevelopment. http://www.union-berlin.com/2013/12/10/my-first-time-union-vs-kaiserslautern-december-2013/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRISTOL86 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Looks great! I know they're in the second tier, but I'd love to see a Bundesliga games. Their atmosphere and the whole experience seems a million miles away from our own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herman Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 worth mentioning that a number of union berlin fan groups have right wing links (http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/union/fangruppierung-des-1-fc-union-crimark-steht-unter-rechtsextremismusverdacht/8279154.html), but they're generally a very well praised club for the way they've considered the fans in all the decisions they make i read an article about them recently which stated that they've had a bit of trouble attracting sponsorship and commercial revenue since they've taken the approach, which is an unfortunate necessity in modern football Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC&T Board Members Blagdon red Posted December 13, 2013 SC&T Board Members Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 worth mentioning that a number of union berlin fan groups have right wing links (http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/union/fangruppierung-des-1-fc-union-crimark-steht-unter-rechtsextremismusverdacht/8279154.html), but they're generally a very well praised club for the way they've considered the fans in all the decisions they make i read an article about them recently which stated that they've had a bit of trouble attracting sponsorship and commercial revenue since they've taken the approach, which is an unfortunate necessity in modern football That whole article talks about a group of 20 people who some suspect of having right-wing sympathies, but nobody has been able to establish whether that is actually the case or not. It's a non-story. Union are actually hugely successful in attracting commercial revenues, largely from Berlin businesses. It is the membership subs of 10 EUR a month from 11,500 members, gate receipts, TV money and sponsorship / advertising from those businesses that funds the club. There is no 'owner' other than the members themselves, i.e. the fans. Thus it really is THEIR club. Anyone intrigued by Miles' report and interested in experiencing a game there themselves, feel free to PM me as I'm often at their home games. If you want to plan ahead, May 11th is a date to look at, as it is one of few games in the season when the date and kick-off time won't move for TV, it being their last home game of the season (13:30 kick-off, against 1860 Munich). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Always Believesham Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 I'd read about the stadium build and the community ivolvement at Berlin before but it's so much better to read someone's perspective of what it's like now. Wouldn't it be great if we could have not just a legacy, but a way of life within the club as a result of the new stadium - something generations can be proud of and other clubs can envy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pongo88 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC&T Board Members Blagdon red Posted December 13, 2013 SC&T Board Members Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 I'd read about the stadium build and the community ivolvement at Berlin before but it's so much better to read someone's perspective of what it's like now. Wouldn't it be great if we could have not just a legacy, but a way of life within the club as a result of the new stadium - something generations can be proud of and other clubs can envy. A bit more on that stadium 'rebuild'... This is what the ground looked liked just five years ago (around the time that plans for Ashton Vale were announced): And how it looked when full at that time (2008): After 140,000 hours of unpaid labour from 4,000 fans ... in 2010: And after 3,000 fans paid 500 EUR each for shares in the stadium company to fund the new grandstand (gaining by doing so an effective veto over any future change in the stadium name), plus investment in the stadium company from long-standing supportive businesses... how it looks in 2013: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pongo88 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaverface Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipdawg Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herman Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 That whole article talks about a group of 20 people who some suspect of having right-wing sympathies, but nobody has been able to establish whether that is actually the case or not. It's a non-story. Union are actually hugely successful in attracting commercial revenues, largely from Berlin businesses. It is the membership subs of 10 EUR a month from 11,500 members, gate receipts, TV money and sponsorship / advertising from those businesses that funds the club. There is no 'owner' other than the members themselves, i.e. the fans. Thus it really is THEIR club. Anyone intrigued by Miles' report and interested in experiencing a game there themselves, feel free to PM me as I'm often at their home games. If you want to plan ahead, May 11th is a date to look at, as it is one of few games in the season when the date and kick-off time won't move for TV, it being their last home game of the season (13:30 kick-off, against 1860 Munich). thankyou for that mind blowingly condescending response i'll just ignore my experience of living here for most of my adult life, several articles to a similar effect and count them out as "non stories" too, then, if that suits you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 thankyou for that mind blowingly condescending response i'll just ignore my experience of living here for most of my adult life, several articles to a similar effect and count them out as "non stories" too, then, if that suits you? otib at its finest. I would enjoy this forum so much more if people just expanded their argument instead of getting all churlish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRISTOL86 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 A bit more on that stadium 'rebuild'... This is what the ground looked liked just five years ago (around the time that plans for Ashton Vale were announced): And how it looked when full at that time (2008): After 140,000 hours of unpaid labour from 4,000 fans ... in 2010: And after 3,000 fans paid 500 EUR each for shares in the stadium company to fund the new grandstand (gaining by doing so an effective veto over any future change in the stadium name), plus investment in the stadium company from long-standing supportive businesses... how it looks in 2013: Dang that German efficiency. In Bristol we'd still be hearing concerns from the blind fishmongers association or anyone else who had any tenuous objection... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22A Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Cyril Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 I went to Berlin a couple of years ago but went to Hertha. Bit gutted now I may have gone to see the wrong team. The experience at the olympic stadium (v Dortmund) was brilliant but this loks more inspiring and proper support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garland-sweden Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 worth mentioning that a number of union berlin fan groups have right wing links (http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/union/fangruppierung-des-1-fc-union-crimark-steht-unter-rechtsextremismusverdacht/8279154.html), but they're generally a very well praised club for the way they've considered the fans in all the decisions they make i read an article about them recently which stated that they've had a bit of trouble attracting sponsorship and commercial revenue since they've taken the approach, which is an unfortunate necessity in modern football I always thought Union Berlin were left and the workers team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Ferret Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Yeah, Union Berlin are traditionally left wing. Teams like SV Hamburg swerve more to the right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Skin Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Great article, thanks for posting. Always fancied a trip to Berlin and be great to visit the ground whilst there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Club and Country Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Berlin is also a cracking city to visit also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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