Hamburg fans can show the ultimate loyalty to their team
by showing their support AFTER they die. The club is officially
opening its fan cemetery on Tuesday, perfect for the die hard HSV
fan who wants eternal rest just yards from the pitch where their
favourite players strut their stuff.
The cemetery, located directly by the Bundesliga club’s home
stadium, has been in planning for three years and will be able to
hold 300 to 500 graves. Hamburg fans contributed €20,000 to the
building while the club put in €30,000 and the cemetery itself will
cover the rest.
In addition to being close to the stadium, the fans also
can choose to have tombstones or coffins with the Hamburg logo.
They can even have the club hymn, ‘Hamburg, meine Perle’ ('Hamburg,
my Pearl'), played at their funeral.
The first plot has already been sold. Club veteran Horst
Everstein (79), a member of the board of directors, has worked for
the club for 53 years and has already decided he wants to keep it
close after he passes away.
He said: “I think it’s a great idea. It has been decided that my
wife and I will have a plot here. But it will be a normal funeral
without the HSV fuss.”
HSV is just the second club in the world to open a fan cemetery.
Argentinian cult club Boca Juniors also have a special place for
their dead fans to rest.
“But theirs is not within viewing distance of the stadium,” HSV
board member Christian Reichert pointed out.