In the Westfalenhalle In the hell is going on – but in the Positive. Thousands of Fans gather for Darts European championship in Dortmund, and make the main event a next to event. By the unprecedented madness of a fan culture.
The felon of the “Casa de Papel” seem to be enthusiasts of the dart game
The U-Bahn station at Dortmund Central station is littered with people. You wait for the U45. Shortly before the entrance of a group of five men of middle age pushing through the thick cluster of People. Their uniform Outfit leaves no room for doubt: Because the Beagle boys just go into the subway. Your goal of the money bin of Dagobert Duck, but the Europe is not, however, the championship of Darts.
As the thieves were already expected to rise only a stop later, no Less a figure than Batman. The bat has a few friends in tow, and have plenty of alcohol. The smell on the one hand, listening to it on the other hand, but also on the subtle babbling of the Bruce-Wayne-Impersonator. It is already clear, what will be this Sunday, the “main food”.
A colourful queue of people
The way to the entrance of the Westphalia hall leads on beer, wine and liquor bottles. At the gates to the Event area, the Darts pendant series to a colourful queue of people. Several hundred meters long. And it shows that it is in the case of Batman and the Tank-jacking in history to individual cases. It goes past the unicorns, pizza, and Hippies. Whether in them the small hope of a brief moment of glory slumbers, is to be on TV? First and foremost, you have to celebrate and Darts-idols cheer, tells one of the spectators.
“A mixture of Oktoberfest and the carnival”
Even sheikhs do not want to miss the Darts spectacle
In the Westphalia hall Festival Feeling, a gigantic Party. Alone to the quarter-finals of almost 5000 spectators have come. You clap hard in the hands, hold up banners, or sing and dance simply omitted. Then the first Athletes marched under the thunderous applause of their Fans a high-five. The mood fits. “It is a mixture of Oktoberfest and carnival,” says one of the Darts Fans, is dressed in a beer-suit, and adds: “The power of the Sport.” Nevertheless, you celebrate in comparison to the football the more, the Costumed. “It is a big Party.”
A German in the Darts-Olympus
Max Hopp throws with the help of his Fans to the semi-finals
The highlight of this Party is the quarter-final encounter between the last German in the tournament, Max Hopp, and his opponent player Darren Webster. Hopp, called “The Maximiser” in the home match against the English the whole of the audience behind. It is true during his throws again and again chants his name. Hopp hits a Triple 20, the amount according to. The 22-Year-old is a 180-point series, there are Standing Ovations. And he wins a pass, shaking the hall in front of a loud cheering literally. The answer to the question, who is supportive, (almost) always the same: “of Course, Maxi chop.” And to appreciate his Fans. After his quarter-final win against Webster, he agrees with you DJ Ötzi’s “Hey Baby” and celebrates so at least a little with this giant Party.