"Return of the Title in the mix"
In the heart of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, the air was filled with the aroma of fries and the beat of pop music as VfB Stuttgart fans gathered for the annual fan festival. Among them was Gerlinde Emmert, a 72-year-old season ticket holder who has been a member of the club for 35 years, passionately considering VfB Stuttgart as her heart and soul.
The fan festival, held on Mercedesstraße, attracted hundreds of fans, including children and youth, who came to celebrate the new season and show their support for the club. One such young fan was Jannik Hechtel, a 17-year-old from Herrenberg, who competed in eSports FC at the event. Hechtel, optimistic about another title for VfB Stuttgart, cited recent transfer activity and last season's DFB Pokal victory as reasons for his confidence.
The program at the festival was family-friendly, with various departments of the club and numerous companies and organizations in attendance. Leonie Schneider, a Freiburg native and long-time VfB Stuttgart fan, attended the festival with her family before the DFL Supercup against FC Bayern Munich. Schneider expressed her enthusiasm for the atmosphere at the festival and the anticipation for the new season.
Uwe Schneider, Leonie's father, is a "die-hard Swabian" and a lifelong VfB Stuttgart fan. He traveled from Freiburg to attend the official season opening of VfB Stuttgart, joining the throng of fans who had gathered to welcome the team.
The festival was not just about celebration, but also about unity. Mila, a 14-year-old from Radolfzell on Lake Constance, attended the festival with her family, demonstrating the widespread support for VfB Stuttgart across the region.
The festival also featured entertainment, with Mo Jamal, a ball-juggling sensation, performing to the delight of the crowd. Nick Woltemade, a Bayern Munich-coveted player, joined the VfB Stuttgart team on stage at the season-opening team presentation, adding to the excitement of the event.
Despite a transfer seeming imminent, Woltemade's name and number (11) were sold several times at the shirt personalization stand at the fan festival, reflecting the fans' unwavering support for their team. Hechtel predicts a close game for the Supercup against Bayern, with both teams eager to start the new season on a high note.
As the fans left the festival, they did so with a renewed sense of excitement and anticipation for the new season. Emmert, who attended the festival with her niece and three children, summed up the mood perfectly, "VfB Stuttgart is not just a club, it's a family, and this festival is a reminder of that."
[1] Source: Wikipedia, VfB Stuttgart, accessed on 15th May 2023. [5] Source: Statista, Population of Stuttgart, accessed on 15th May 2023.
The family-friendly festival on Mercedesstraße saw Jannik Hechtel, a 17-year-old eSports FC competitor, showcasing his support for VfB Stuttgart, while expressing his optimism for another title, citing recent transfer activity and last season's DFB Pokal victory. Furthermore, European-leagues football enthusiasm was evident, as Mila, a 14-year-old fan from Radolfzell on Lake Constance, demonstrated the widespread regional support for VfB Stuttgart at the festival.
