Dresden is hosting the 2025 edition of “Die Finals” and I must confess, I left deeply impressed. Not only by the event itself, but also by the city that hosted it with such elegance. For four days, the heart of elite German sport beats in the beautiful capital of Saxony — and it beats loudly.
At its core, Die Finals brings together Germany’s national championships across 20 sports, awarding 133 titles over four days. After a pause in 2024 due to the Olympics, this fifth edition reinforces the event’s commitment to an annual rhythm and a multi-sport format that creates meaningful impact.
With 30 hours of live coverage on ARD and ZDF, and over 100 hours of streaming across their media libraries, Die Finals Dresden 2025 are set to become the largest sports production of the year for Germany’s public broadcasters. And what a stage they’ve chosen — a city that understands that sport isn’t just about performance, but also about storytelling and setting.
Dresden’s Winning Formula: Proximity and Beauty
Dresden’s hosting concept is built around “Nähe und Schönheit” — proximity and beauty. With no more than three kilometers separating any two venues, the event offers a compact and seamless experience for fans, athletes, and media alike. But it’s not just logistics that shine.
The city’s iconic landmarks — from the Semperoper to the Frauenkirche to the Elbufer — are used as intentional backdrops for elite sport. It’s a strategy reminiscent of Paris 2024, where competitions were framed by the city’s most famous monuments to create unforgettable visuals.
As Hagen Bossdorf (Managing Director of Die Finals) put it:
“Cities can use these kinds of events to show what they have and what they can do. The blend of tradition and modernity works wonderfully in Dresden.”
And it truly does. Die Finals in Dresden is not just a sporting success — it’s a showcase of civic identity, merging heritage with innovation, and proving how cities can tell their story through sport.
The Power of a Unified Platform
The feedback from federations I spoke to over the day was clear: the model works.
A shared platform enhances every competition. Unified TV production, cohesive branding — from medals and music to venue design and broadcast graphics — and a consistent event identity help elevate each sport, including those that rarely see national media coverage.
The result? A fully integrated sports festival that creates value for athletes, federations, broadcasters, fans, and host cities alike.
Most importantly, Die Finals demonstrates something bigger: When federations collaborate, sport becomes more visible, more engaging, and more powerful.
From Niche to National Spotlight
One of the most compelling aspects of Die Finals is how it lifts sports out of their niche. Most national championships tend to attract friends, family, and a core community. But under the umbrella of Die Finals, with prime-time production and a unifying brand identity, these events gain broader reach — and begin to matter to new audiences.
In today’s fragmented media environment, visibility drives relevance. And Die Finals delivers exactly that — on-screen, in public spaces, and across digital platforms.
It’s a model that shows what’s possible — and why collaborative frameworks between federations, cities, and media are the way forward.
Why Not Para Sports?
One element is still missing: Para sport. I may be biased, but it’s hard to overlook the absence of Para athletes at Die Finals. While logistical and operational challenges may exist, the question is worth asking:
What would it take to include Para sports in future editions?
Germany’s top Para athletes deserve to be seen and celebrated — not just every four years at the Paralympics, but regularly, and in front of national audiences. A unified multi-sport platform like Die Finals is the perfect setting to showcase their talent.
Beyond visibility, such an integration would reflect the values German sport strives to uphold: equality, opportunity, and inclusion. We’ve seen how platforms can transform perception — and how the public responds when given the chance to engage.
Start small. Don’t overdo it. But start. With the right planning and partnerships, inclusion is not only possible — it’s necessary. And it would make Die Finals truly representative of all of Germany’s elite athletes.
Sponsorship: Potential Ready to Be Unlocked
Commercially, Die Finals is still evolving. A few early partners are on board, and federations can bring in their own sponsors. This flexibility reduces friction, but it also dilutes the power of a shared commercial narrative.
That’s not a flaw — it’s a starting point.
The current model has proven that collaboration works. Federations already benefit indirectly from improved production and exposure. But there’s a clear opportunity to build a stronger, unified sponsorship platform, one that spans broadcast, city activation, and digital campaigns.
Imagine the brand storytelling potential of Die Finals when partners are activated in meaningful, cross-sport ways — locally, nationally, and online.
Ticketing: A Smarter Strategy for a Better Fan Experience
Another improvement area is ticketing. Right now, there’s no centralized solution. Some events are free, others have individual ticketing platforms. A lot of the events are offered to fans for free. However, if tickets are sold, this patchwork approach creates friction for fans — and makes cross-sport attendance more difficult.
A unified ticketing system would make it easier for fans to engage with multiple sports. It would also unlock new opportunities around smart pricing, bundling, and data-driven fan journeys. Another aspect of it would be crowd control, awareness of events going on as well as how many seats are available.
Of course, revenue distribution will need careful consideration, as some federations rely on ticket sales to finance their championships. But where there’s a will, there’s a way — and the long-term benefits for visibility, attendance, and experience design are worth the effort.
A Concept That Travels:
Dresden Today, Hannover Tomorrow
Die Finals isn’t just a national competition. It’s a living example of how sport, cities, and stories can come together to elevate everything — from performance to public perception.
I hope the team behind this platform continues to build on what they’ve created. Because the future of sport in Germany — and across Europe — needs more events like this. Dresden has raised the bar — combining vision, infrastructure, and storytelling to deliver an outstanding experience. Next up: Hannover in 2026 and Stuttgart in 2027.
The concept is working — and with every edition, Die Finals is growing in relevance. But long-term success will depend on staying agile, inclusive, and ambitious.
And above all, on never losing sight of the athletes. For many, Die Finals offers the closest thing to an Olympic (or Paralympic Games in the future) — a milestone, a moment of pride, and a motivation to reach even greater heights.