Hertha BSC has tightened its stadium rules to prohibit commercially produced and monetised matchday vlogs filmed with professional camera and production equipment at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. The move highlights growing tensions between football clubs’ control over media rights and the rise of fan-generated content on social media.
The 2. Bundesliga club said the ban applies to content created for commercial exploitation through video platforms and social networks. Private photos and videos recorded for personal use will remain permitted.
Hertha’s decision reflects a broader debate over the role of content creators in the live matchday experience. While stadium vloggers can attract large online audiences and offer fans a different perspective on football, their presence has also drawn criticism from supporters who believe filming can interfere with traditional matchday rituals and the atmosphere in the stands.
“Attending a Hertha BSC match should be, above all, a shared football experience,” the club said, adding that supporters should be able to enjoy the game and atmosphere without being filmed for commercial productions.
Media rights and stadium access
Hertha said the decision is based on existing ticketing and stadium regulations, alongside applicable media and exploitation rights. Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga matches are also subject to Bundesliga Group guidelines governing the individual use and exploitation of media marketing rights.
The club argued that, just as Hertha must comply with these rules when producing its own matchday content, third parties cannot independently exploit stadium and match footage commercially without the club’s explicit consent.
The regulations are not new, Hertha acknowledged. However, the club said it had not always enforced them consistently and would take a stricter approach going forward.
The decision was made jointly by club management, the executive board, communications and media teams, and event and matchday operations. Stadium security staff have been informed, and visitors bringing clearly identifiable professional production equipment for commercial vlogging should expect restrictions on its use and entry.
Hertha is not alone. Fellow 2. Bundesliga club Dynamo Dresden introduced similar restrictions in August, prohibiting recordings at Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion intended for public distribution. Hertha’s move adds further weight to the debate as clubs seek to protect their commercial rights while navigating the increasingly blurred boundary between fan expression and professional content production.
Stadium plans gather pace
The announcement comes as Hertha continues to pursue plans for a new football-specific stadium. Last month, the Berlin Senate approved a potential site for the long-running project.
The club has played at the Olympiastadion since 1963. Originally built for the 1936 Olympic Games, the venue has a capacity of approximately 74,000 and includes an athletics track. Hertha has long sought a more intimate stadium designed specifically for football.
After years of discussions, a Senate expert commission concluded that a site on Jesse-Owens-Allee within the Olympiapark was fundamentally suitable for a new stadium.
The stadium-vlogging restrictions and the proposed new venue are separate developments, but both reflect the club’s efforts to exert greater control over its matchday environment—from the physical experience in the stands to the commercial use of content produced inside the ground.