February 29 – Following the hurly burly of the FIFA presidential election at Zurich’s Hallenstadion FIFA’s new chief Gianni Infantino attended his first official public function across town at the opening of the SFr 130 million ($129 million) FIFA Museum project.
Infantino toured the museum with its managing director Stefan Jost conducting media interviews and posing with children for publicity shots.
The museum houses a library, sports bar, café, bistro, a 180˚ cinema and a giant pinball game. With more than 3,000 sq m of exhibition space the museum has 1,000 objects, 1,400 photos, 500 videos, 60 screens and 15 interactive stations.
The museum cost breakdown is SFr30 million spent on the museum, and SFr 110 million renovating and reconstructing the ‘Haus zur Enge’ building in Zurich’s Enge district. The rental contract with the owners of the building lasts until 2055.
“This is a place in which football is lived and breathed,” Infantino said. “Here you can inoculate yourself with the football virus, if you don’t already have it. In this place, only football matters!”
Jost said: “The museum has something for people of all ages. Visitors can expect a unique mix consisting of stories documenting the fascinating history of international football as well as interactive stations. We want to bring people closer to football and to make the museum a vibrant meeting place for all football and sports fans.”
The two World Cup Trophies, previously held in a Zurich bank vault, will be on permanent display in the museum’s FIFA World Cup™ Gallery. “We are very proud that these two trophies – probably the most important team-sport trophies, have now found a new home in our museum,” said Jost.
“They will be a magnet for every single one of our visitors. We have no doubt that, with the FIFA World Football Museum, we have created another must-see for tourists in the city of Zurich.”
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