As inconspicuous as the mobile exhibition container is from the outside, the World Cup box is as informative and entertaining on the inside. The picture shows (from left) curator Hans Schlüper, museum director of the ZeitWerkStadt Franziska Bäßler, Frankenberg’s mayor Oliver Gerstner and ELA site manager Erik Geidelt at the symbolic handover of the keys. (Photo: ELA Container)
Historic football final comes to life again at the ELA Frankenberg site
Around 10 years ago, ELA Container housed the exhibition “The Miracle of Bern” by curator and football expert Hans Schlüper in a mobile museum based on an ELA exhibition container. After traveling for some time, the container was located in Spiez, Switzerland until recently. Now the exhibition has been relocated to ZeitWerkStadt, an interactive museum for urban and industrial history in Frankenberg/Saxony, and reopened for an initial period of five years.
The ELA exhibition container contains a small but fine exhibition on Germany’s 1954 World Cup victory, covering around 30 square meters. Visitors can experience the unforgettable moments of the 1954 World Cup and its heroes up close. On display are documents, pictures and videos as well as objects that were used in the five final round matches and the final – including a jersey, tickets, the goal net from the Wankdorf Stadium and a bench board from the main stand with the number 272.
A picture gallery with large-format posters, photos and graphics gives an authentic impression of the final in Bern. Photos from each of the 96 minutes of play bring the match between Hungary and Germany back to life before the eyes of the visitors. Curator Hans Schlüper maintains the world’s largest film archive of the World Cup final on July 4, 1954. An exciting compilation of this can also be seen in the exhibition. Another highlight is the contemporary replica of the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern on a scale of H0 (1:87).
“It is amazing how many impressions and information can be accommodated in the relatively small space of the ELA exhibition container,” says Erik Geidelt, manager of the ELA branch in Frankenberg. “I am delighted about the reopening of the ELA WM-Box and see it as a great addition to our ELA location in Frankenberg.
“The exhibition on the 1954 World Cup fits Frankenberg just as well as the round fits into the square,” says Franziska Bäßler, museum director of ZeitWerkStadt. Frankenberg has a long tradition in football and SV Barkas Frankenberg recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Frankenberg’s mayor Oliver Gerstner also confirms this: “The active participation of our clubs and primary schools in this opening event shows the great interest of the people of Frankenberg in sport and also in the exhibition on the Miracle of Bern.” The World Cup box fits perfectly with the ZeitWerkStadt as an experience-oriented facility.
The supporting program for the opening of the World Cup Box was organized by SV Barkas Frankenberg 1984 eV. There was a soccer tournament, goal-wall shooting and a shot speed test, among other things. “We took advantage of the opportunity of the exhibition opening and integrated the event into our holiday program,” says Gerstner. More than 80 children took up the offer.
“Football is everything. But without football, everything is nothing,” says curator Schlüper, summarizing the significance of his exhibition with a wink. Football remains the most important secondary matter in the world.
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The internationally operating family company ELA Container has been continuously developing the rental service and the technology of the room systems since 1972. With over 60,000 transportable units, ELA Container is the specialist when it comes to mobile room solutions in container construction. Its own fleet of 100 special trucks with loading cranes ensures safe transport and professional assembly. ELA is represented worldwide with 24 locations and over 1,400 employees, including 60 mobile specialist consultants, and thus ensures short-term and fast delivery to any location. Further information at www.container.de.
