“It’s much better here in the Europapark stadium,” says Alexander, who is very satisfied with the move of his favorite club from Schwarzwaldstraße to the vicinity of Freiburg Airport. Because in the new home of SC Freiburg he can get to his seat without steps, from where he has an excellent overview of the game. Step-free access is important for Alexander because he uses a wheelchair.
Unobstructed view and under cover: In the past, the SC fans, who were dependent on a wheelchair, were placed directly behind the boundary of the field. In the new Europa-Park stadium, you can go directly to seats with a good view of the field without steps. | Image: Juergen Rössler
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In the past, in the stadium on the Dreisam, it was much narrower in the area for wheelchair users – and wet when it rained. “You have a very good view and you sit dry,” says Dani, who appreciates the new seats for people who are dependent on a wheelchair.
A definite improvement
Halfway up the tiers, the circuit runs through the stadium and there are now easily accessible places for wheelchair users, 144 in number. And – also a significant improvement – there are now seats for accompanying persons. This means Dani can visit the stadium with her husband and son, which didn’t always work in the past because things got tight at times during top games.
Last Saturday, around the SC home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach, the SC organized a day of action on the topic of inclusion. But does it need an action day, shouldn’t that be part of everyday stadium life? “Basically yes,” confirms Tobias Rauber, who is responsible for social commitment at the Bundesliga club.
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The mere fact that such a position exists shows that the detail-loving club not only has an eye for the optimized point haul of the Bundesliga professionals, but also takes care of social issues.
The two blind reporters Mario Ködel (left) and Michael Späth comment in great detail on every situation in a game and from a fan perspective. | Image: Juergen Rössler
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The radio service for the visually impaired is prescribed by the DFL, but at the SC it is implemented with a lot of heart and soul. Mario Ködel and Stefan Späth describe every ball movement so that visually impaired fans can also join in the excitement. “It’s much more than sitting at home on the radio,” the two describe their offer: “Even if you don’t see everything from the game, you can enjoy the atmosphere here, feel the energy in the stadium and cheer along!” No ordinary radio So and via the streaming offer also available outside the stadium.
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When it comes to wheelchair-friendliness, SC Freiburg cannot necessarily be seen as a pioneer here either, but while the gradual expansion of the old stadium was primarily about increasing capacity, the needs of people with disabilities could be taken into account in the new building from the outset. “They put a lot of effort here,” said Dani, also praising the new environment, even though she conceded that the Dreisam Stadium was certainly charming. “The topic was considered from the start,” Rauber confirms that this was firmly in view.
Sport offers for children and young people
In Breisgau, the commitment to inclusion goes beyond the stadium and the day of the match, with exercise and sports programs for children and young people with disabilities, for example. And soon you won’t need an action day to draw attention to the offer – that’s a matter of course. “Because for us as a club,” Rauber knows, “such a promotional game day is an excellent opportunity to test how we can better implement the topic of inclusion in game day processes and in our internal structures.”
