The countdown to the grand finale

Thursday, 31 May 2013, just a few minutes before midnight: German Comedian Mario Barth has just left the stage inside the LANXESS arena. The recording for his latest live DVD is finished.

From now on, the countdown for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is running in Europe’s biggest multi-functional arena. In less than 36 hours the logistic teams have to change the bare hall into a handball temple as 20,000 fans from all over the world will be gathering for the biggest event in European club handball.

First of all the concert stage including tons of technical material has to be removed. On Saturday morning at 6:30 hrs the preparation of the playing area can finally begin. At the same time the setup for the arena’s Clubroom West is completed which will host more than 300 journalists during the event. The Clubroom East will be the space for the VELUX VIP Lounge.

200 employees of the arena’s logistics teams are working restlessly to set the scene for the handball spectacle. The branding in and around the arena covers an area of 2,5 handball fields (2000 square metres); flags of the participating teams, the sponsors, the European Handball Federation – the whole area will be draped in the distinctive colours of the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

Numerous truckloads of promotion equipment are carried from one of Cologne’s trade fair halls towards the arena.

“The timeslot is extremely tight,” one of the technicians says. He has no time for any more words. Press tables have to be set and wired with local area network cables, the rigging is prepared and pulled upwards, the whole tribune is cleaned up, more than 500 chairs have to be lined up on the additional stands. More than 20 TV cameras are installed. There are crowds of people and jostling everywhere. Some of the men even hang right below the ceiling – secured by harnesses – 40 metres above ground floor.

When the playing field will be installed, each single line receives an extra adhesion, advertising is applied. And last, but not least, each single one of those 20,000 spectator seats has to be equipped with one of the VELUX fan clappers! The arena is ready, let the show begin.