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#bild#During the 90-minute stage show, which was compered by Jessica Kastrop, museum director Manuel Neukirchner joined Germany head coach Joachim Löw and national team general manager Oliver Bierhoff to reflect on the development of the project and some great football moments of the past, while the ensemble from the musical The Miracle Of Bern rekindled memories of Germany's first major success at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, in particular for one of the heroes of that triumph, Horst Eckel, who was in attendance.
Another highlight of the evening was the introduction of the final exhibit, the 2014 World Cup trophy, one of approximately 1,600 display items embedded in the multimedia exhibition.
"When you consider how many clubs there are in North Rhine-Westphalia, how many players and how many fans flock to matches week in, week out, it's fair to say the museum simply has to be here," said NRW state premier Hannelore Kraft. "I'm sure it will become a place of pilgrimage, not least because of all the exhibits, which have an extra special appeal."
#bild#"We're all looking forward to the opening day," said Wolfgang Niersbach, "though it's somewhat tarnished, I can't blank that out, especially as the 2006 World Cup was the ideational starting point for the museum. Many people followed the tournament with a feeling of euphoria back then. The world admired us for it, our hospitality earned their respect and affection. That attempts are being made to cast a shadow over this event is painful for Germany and for me. That's the emotional side. The rational side demands that we clear up the things that remain unanswered with vehemence. I promise that we will tackle this as a team."
Dortmund mayor Ullrich Sierau recalled the evening of 24 April 2009 when the DFB congress decided whether the museum would go to Gelsenkirchen or Dortmund: "At the time we had our fingers crossed for each other, totally different to the derby, because it was clear that we already had a winner - the region was getting the museum. This sport is rooted here. There are 109 clubs in Dortmund alone. And to paraphrase Adi Preissler we can now say what matters is in the museum, not just on the pitch anymore."
#bild#Manuel Neukirchner said: "Football, with its tradition and sense of belonging, has long become an important part of everyday culture, especially in the Ruhr conurbation with its varied forms of cultural exchange and its five million people from 170 nations. The Ruhr is thus an ideal location for the German Football Museum and will have an impact way beyond the borders of North Rhine-Westphalia."
The museum opens after a time for completion of three years. Constructed by HPP Architekten, the new build gives the 140-year history of the German game a new and permanent home at a prominent location opposite Dortmund's central railway station. Enhancing the city's art and culture district, the elevated wedge-shaped building takes its inspiration from the urban environment as well as the exhibition concept created by the scenography agency TRIAD Berlin. In overall terms, the museum establishes a new cultural format for German football.
#bild#More quotes
Reinhard Rauball: "There isn't much you need to say about how popular football is in Dortmund. The game is lived in this city. It also has great importance for society, as you see week in, week out at grounds across the Ruhr."
Joachim Löw: "It's a magnificent exhibition. The images from the 2014 World Cup are wonderful impressions that are still very much on our minds. I'm pleased and obviously a little proud that they have been preserved at the German Football Museum."
Oliver Bierhoff: "There was a huge sense of relief when we won the final. The players had been weighed down by the need to win the final no matter what it took. In previous tournaments we hadn't gone all the way, so it's nice to be able to bring the World Cup trophy to the exhibition."
#bild#Otto Rehhagel: "Football has always been of special importance in the Ruhr. For the people who worked hard down the pit football was a wonderful diversion, and this enthusiasm for the game remains intact to this day."
Toni Schumacher: "My parents used to say I had to become a good footballer because I was born in a World Cup year. That didn't quite work out, but at least I became a half-decent goalkeeper."
Click for a <link https: www.fussballmuseum.de nc museum eigene-medien fotogalerie galerie gala-der-star-ist-die-ausstellung-24.htm _blank external-link-new-window externen link in neuem>gallery with 51 photos, here for a #video:12467:video#.
