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Red Shorts & Champagne: The Cradle of HSV

2.8 km114 min8 stops

What awaits you on this Red Thread tour

Discover the bourgeois soul of the Hamburger SV. While the rival St. Pauli was born in the docks, the HSV—the 'Dinosaur' of the Bundesliga—was born here, among the mansions and merchant villas of Rotherbaum. This audio journey takes you from the historic Dammtor station to the legendary 'Schickeria' mile of Pöseldorf. Walk the path of the founders, stand on the holy ground where Uwe Seeler became a legend, and relive the golden 70s when Kevin Keegan and Felix Magath turned football into a glamorous lifestyle. It is a story of class, culture, and the 'English Disease' that conquered Hamburg.

Itinerary

1

TOUR START

Dammtor Station

The historic Art Nouveau gateway separating the city center from the affluent Rotherbaum district.

Dammtor Station

Pic by hh oldman on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

0.38 km • 6 min
2

STOP 2

Moorweide

The open green space where the 'English disease' (football) was first played by local students.

Moorweide

Pic by wikimail on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

0.52 km • 9 min
3

STOP 3

Curio-Haus

A grand building representing the bourgeois, academic milieu of the Rotherbaum district.

Curio-Haus

Pic by Ajepbah on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

1.13 km • 19 min
4

STOP 4

Tennisstadion am Rothenbaum

The site of the former 'Sportplatz am Rothenbaum', HSV's fortress before the Bundesliga era.

0.37 km • 6 min
5

STOP 5

U-Bahn Hallerstraße

The historic transport hub for fans, retaining the atmosphere of match days past.

U-Bahn Hallerstraße

Pic by Peter Whatley on geo.hlipp.de on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

0.83 km • 14 min
6

STOP 6

Turmweg / St. Johannis

A walk through the residential heart where club patrons lived, contrasting with the players' humbler abodes.

Turmweg / St. Johannis

Pic by Ajepbah on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 de)

0.51 km • 9 min
7

STOP 7

Milchstraße

The center of 'Pöseldorf' and the playground of the HSV 'Schickeria' in the 70s and 80s.

Milchstraße

Pic by Benutzer:Staro1 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

0.54 km • 9 min
8

END

Zwick Pöseldorf

A legendary rock-n-roll pub and living museum of the 70s/80s Hamburg scene.

Where the tour takes place

Starting point and rough tour area – the exact route unfolds in the app.

Good to know

  • Ideal for Football romantics, history buffs, architecture lovers, and anyone curious about the social divide between Hamburg's two great clubs.
  • Best time Afternoons, ending around 6 PM to finish with a drink at Zwick.
  • Thirsty work The tour ends at a legendary pub, so plan for a beer or meal.
  • Respect the quiet Parts of Rotherbaum are residential, so keep voices low in side streets.
  • Tennis season During the Rothenbaum tournament (July), the stadium area is ticketed/crowded.
  • Your voucher You can redeem your voucher for two years from purchase. Once redeemed, you have 14 days of access and can enjoy the tour as often as you like during that time.

Your guide

Max Krämer
Audio sample
0:000:00

Max Krämer

  • History & Memory
  • Northern Germany

Historian with a passion for urban places of remembrance. Has worked in archives and museums for years; shows the traces of revolutions, monuments, and colonial pasts in today's streets.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the tour after buying?

You see your voucher code right after payment – and you also receive it at the email address you entered at checkout. Redeem that code in the Red Thread app; that's where the tour starts.

When does my access start?

Only when you redeem the code in the app, not at purchase. From redemption you have 14 days of access to the tour.

Do I need the Red Thread app?

Yes. The free Red Thread app turns your tour into a vivid experience: with audio, a map, and thoughtful prompts, it guides you from place to place in an engaging and entertaining way. It's available free for iOS and Android.

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