Dresden Monarchs with over 5000 fans and no fear of spiders!

Dresden- “Yes, we are playing!” was the clear statement from the managing director of Dresden Monarchs, Joerg Dreßler (49), for the play-off quarter-finals on Saturday (4 p.m.) against the Straubing Spiders.

This was necessary because the water level of the Elbe was increasing and many Dresden residents were worried that the party at the Heinz Steyer Stadium would be cancelled.

But the water is no longer a concern, and the competition on a busy sports Saturday in the state capital is only a limited concern.

At 6 p.m. the Titans basketball players will start their new ProA season in the Margon Arena, and at 2 p.m. the Eastern cracker between Dynamo Dresden and Hansa Rostock will take place in the Rudolf Harbig Stadium, with just over 30,000 fans expected.

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However, the arrival and departure of the away fans is always problematic in such “high-risk” games.

A confrontation with the home fans should and must be avoided, so the guests are transported from the exhibition center to the stadium in shuttle buses – perfectly timed to coincide with the Monarchs game – in order to avoid any scuffles at all.

In American football, this only happens on the field. Separating fans into sectors is a foreign concept. More than 5,000 have already secured their tickets for the quarter-finals.

“We are happy and proud that, despite the great competition, so many fans are coming to our play-off quarter-finals and want to celebrate a great football festival with us,” says Dreßler happily.

It could be the last one this season. Because in a possible semi-final there is the – almost usual – away game in Schwäbisch Hall. Provided that the long-time rivals win against the Hildesheim Invaders at the same time.

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The Monarchs also have to win. Against the spiders from Straubing, that is very likely – assuming everything goes as normal – as the test match before the season (30:7 win) already showed.

But you shouldn’t underestimate the spiders. “The idea would be somewhat natural. That’s why we have to defend ourselves against it!”, explains head coach Greg Seamon (69).