The basketball-centered party in the heart of the German capital was bustling from the moment it opened on Friday
FanZone reaches new heights at Kraftwerk Berlin
Final Four News
3 Min lectura
The greatness of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague merges with urban hoops for an event that appeals to all in the FanZone at Kraftwerk Berlin. Whether you are a basketball devotee or just curious about the big event at the heart of Berlin, there is something for everyone at the FanZone.
Held for the first time at an indoor venue, the FanZone at Kraftwerk Berlin transports visitors to a basketball-centered party, with the former powerplant hopping thanks to the DJ spinning tunes from the top floor. A host of pavilions sponsored by the Euroleague Basketball’s family of partners ensures that there is something to do at all times at the FanZone.
The crowd is a virtual rainbow of shirts with the Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul faithful glowing in their yellow, the Olympiacos Piraeus fans shining in their firetruck red, the Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens loyals proudly decked out in rich green and Real Madrid’s supporters looking fine in their whites. Alongside them are basketball fans of all shapes and sizes wearing the colors of local German squads, other EuroLeague contenders and past powerhouses of the game, including one wearing a Benetton Treviso jersey!
Among the first fans to visit the FanZone when it opened on Friday was Erhan, a Fenerbahce fan from Turkey. Erhan, who is at his sixth Final Four, was taking his son to his first.
“The best thing is to be at the FanZone on the first day, to enjoy the atmosphere and get ready for the first games,” Erhan said. “I think this year there are many great activities for the kids. We cannot leave. We love the merchandise and we already bought ours. It’s a great FanZone experience this year.”
Along one row on the top floor, fans can get their photo taken with the EuroLeague Trophy at the BKT booth, purchase the first cases of the new Donruss EuroLeague collectors cards from Panini, play a virtual reality basketball game sponsored by OlyTV and get official Final Four merch from Spalding. On Saturday afternoon, OlyTV will open a podcast booth where players from all of the Final Four teams will stop by for interviews.
On the ground floor, Turkish Airlines and Motorola have large facilities where you can play games for prizes and get souvenirs. There are great options to eat too from the food truck at the entrance to a variety of shops on the second floor offering all sorts of street fare, drinks and snacks, from pizza and pasta to pulled-beef sandwiches and Korean bowls.
“We are huge basketball fans. We booked our tickets in December. We were a bit nervous in the playoffs, but our teams made it!” said Panathinaikos fan Dimitris Lalaounis, who is taking in his first Final Four with his close friend and Olympiacos fan Ilias Panteleakos, a veteran of four Final Fours.
“There are many activities and prizes to win. It’s really nice,” Panteleakos added after the two had just completed playing one-on-one at one of the courts.
At the heart of the FanZone are a variety of courts hosting different 3x3 and full-court tournaments related to the Final Four, which fans are invited to watch. Check the FanZone schedule to see the tournament times as well as the other special activities taking place over the weekend.
