Allianz Arena – stadium description

What does Allianz Arena look like in a nutshell?

The facility has an original, though not very complicated, even extremely symmetrical, oval form. Incidentally, in many people it evokes associations with... a tire. A distinguishing feature of the arena is its unique cover, created from 2784 rhomboidal airbags, which can be illuminated in many colors at night.

The cushions are made of ETFE film and are permanently inflated. Their rhomboid shape refers to the motifs present in the Bavarian symbols and Bayern's coat of arms. The unusual facade catches the eye and makes the facility seen as one of the most architecturally interesting stadiums in the world.

The stadium's stands are divided into three tiers and can accommodate about 75,000 spectators (70,000 after converting standing room to seating), making the Allianz Arena the second-largest stadium in Germany.

The auditorium is fully covered by a roof, under which there are folding blinds to regulate the amount of sunlight allowed inside. The stadium features VIP areas, food and beverage outlets, as well as a Bayern store and museum.

The facility was built between 2002 and 2005, designed by Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron. It originally had two hosts, but after TSV 1860 Munich moved out in 2017, it is exclusively assigned to Bayern.

What is the history of Allianz Arena?

The construction of Allianz Arena was Bayern's initiative, but it was also helped by the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. Eventually, Bayern entered into a partnership with its derby rival, TSV 1860 Munich, which made state aid possible. The stadium was built between 2002 and 2005 and was chosen as the venue for the opening match of the 2006 World Cup.

How did Allianz Arena come to be?

Until the 1990s, Munich's Olympic Stadium was considered one of the best in the country, thanks to its dimensions and unique roofing. However, when modern, football-specific venues like the Amsterdam Arena and the new Volksparkstadion began to be built, people in Munich also began to consider big changes.

In 1997 FC Bayern won its 14th German championship title, and in September of that year the club's board of directors decided on a major stadium investment. The venture was to cost about 500 million marks. The construction of a new stadium was under consideration, as well as the redevelopment of the Olympic Stadium.

The reconstruction of the Olympic Stadium was initially opposed by its architect, Günter Behnisch, but in the course of talks with Bayern a preliminary concept was developed to convert the stadium into a football-specific venue.

However, the idea met with opposition, with opponents claiming that the changes would only detract from the appearance of the facility and it should be kept in its current form, while Bayern's new stadium should be constructed elsewhere. On the initiative of residents, 40,000 signatures were collected in favor of holding a referendum on the issue.

The initiative to build the stadium was helped by Germany's selection as host of the 2006 World Cup, which was made in July 2000. The construction was urged by Bayern's legendary player and, at the time, the head of the World Cup organizing committee, Franz Beckenbauer. Eventually, in December 2000, plans to rebuild the Olympic Stadium were abandoned, opting instead to build a new arena.

When was it agreed that Bayern and TSV 1860 would co-host the new stadium?

In January 2001, Bayern formed an alliance to build a stadium with a second club from Munich, TSV 1860. Both teams were doing very well at the time, with Bayern winning three more championship titles between 1999 and 2001, and TSV 1860 playing continuously in the Bundesliga since 1994, with episodes in European cups as well. Both Bayern and TSV 1860 played their matches at the Olympic Stadium.

In December 2001, Bayern and TSV 1860 formed a company called München Stadion GmbH to handle the construction of a new stadium. The two clubs each held a 50% stake in the company. In April 2002, the future Munich stadium was chosen as one of the 12 venues for the 2006 World Cup.

Despite equal shares, Bayern took the burden of financing the investment. The addition of TSV 1860 to the initiative, however, ensured that the facility was not solely owned by one entity, enabling public support from the city, which financed the expansion of the infrastructure around the stadium.

When was the site chosen for Munich's new stadium?

In early 2001, shortly after an agreement was reached between Bayern and TSV 1860, the search for a site to house the new stadium began. Of the five sites selected, the Fröttmaning district in the north of the city was chosen in July 2001.

When was the referendum on the construction of a new stadium in Munich held?

Before construction took place, residents had the final say in the matter. On October 21, 2001, a local referendum was held in Munich, in which 65.8% of voters (with a turnout of 37.5%) voted in favor of the new stadium. The city council vote was a formality and passed by an overwhelming majority.

Who designed Allianz Arena?

The competition to design the new facility, which included renowned architectural offices from around the world, was announced in August 2001. On November 30, 2001, first prize was awarded simultaneously to concepts by Herzog & de Meuron of Basel and Gerkan, Marg und Partner of Hamburg.

On February 8, 2002, the choice of the model for the new stadium was finally announced, to be built according to the vision of the Swiss architects from Herzog & de Meuron. A partnership with insurance company Allianz was also announced, according to which the facility was to be named Allianz Arena.

The architectural concept of Allianz Arena can be seen on a separate subpage

When was Allianz Arena built?

Construction of the new stadium began in the fall of 2002, and the official groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 21, 2002, exactly one year after the referendum. The main contractor was Alpine Bau Deutschland GmbH, which had previously entered into a consortium with Herzog & de Meuron.

Construction of the new stadium went very smoothly. On November 20, 2003, the first of the main 60-meter beams of the roof structure was installed. On March 26, 2004, the stadium's reinforced concrete structure was completed, and on May 26, 2004, the first foil cushion was installed on the facade.

The first seat appeared in the stands on September 18, 2004, and on April 16, 2005 the laying of the turf was completed. The work came to an end in the same month and on April 30, 2005 the contractor handed over the finished stadium to München Stadion GmbH. 120,000 m³ of concrete and 22,000 tons of steel were used to build the stadium.

A scandal erupted around the construction of the stadium: the son of the president of TSV 1860 Munich and chairman of München Stadion GmbH, Karl-Heinz Wildmoser junior, was sentenced to prison for accepting a bribe in exchange for providing information to Alpine Bau Deutschland GmbH to help the company in obtaining the construction contract.

How much did it cost to build Allianz Arena?

The stadium cost €340 million to build, with Bayern Munich bearing the burden of financing. It took an additional €210 million to develop the infrastructure around the stadium – this part of the investment was financed by the city. All debts incurred in connection with the project were repaid by Bayern by the end of 2014, 16 years faster than originally planned.

When was Allianz Arena inaugurated?

The first test of the new arena took place on May 19, 2005, when teams made up of former TSV 1860 and Bayern players faced each other (3–2) in the presence of some 30,000 spectators in the new stadium.

The official opening of the stadium took place in two acts: On May 30, 2005, a friendly match was played between TSV 1860 and 1. FC Nürnberg (3–2), and a day later there was a meeting between Bayern and the German national team (4–2). Both matches were played with a full crowd.

The first competitive game (in the League Cup) took place on July 26, 2005 (Bayern – VfB Stuttgart 1–2), and the first Bundesliga match was played on August 5, 2005 (Bayern – Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–0).

During the construction of the stadium, in 2004, TSV 1860 Munich was relegated to the 2. Bundesliga. The club played its first league match at Allianz Arena on August 12, 2005 against Hansa Rostock (4–1).

When did TSV 1860 Munich move out of Allianz Arena?

On April 27, 2006, due to financial problems, TSV 1860 Munich decided to sell its 50% stake in the stadium management company to Bayern, for €11 million. Bayern thus took full control of München Stadion GmbH.

TSV 1860 remained co-host of the arena until 2017, when they were relegated to the Regionalliga and decided to return to their former venue, Grünwalder Stadion. Throughout the entire period spent at Allianz Arena, TSV 1860 played in the 2. Bundesliga. Unlike Bayern, which regularly sells out the stadium, TSV 1860's matches were usually less attended and the upper floor of the stands was sometimes closed.

What changes were made to Allianz Arena after the opening?

How was the capacity of Allianz Arena increased?

Initially, the capacity of the stadium was 66,000 spectators. Already at the beginning of 2006, it was increased by nearly 4 thousand places, to the level of 69,901 spectators. In 2012, the number increased to 71,137, and in 2015 to 75,024.

Capacity was increased without interfering with the main structure, making smaller changes and alterations, such as enlarging standing areas, adding additional rows of seats, reducing the distance between seats or eliminating unnecessary spaces for journalists.

What changes were made to Allianz Arena's facade?

The cushions covering the stadium could initially only be illuminated in three colors – red (used for Bayern matches), blue (for TSV 1860) or white (during national team matches and other events). In 2014–2015, new LED lights were installed that can display 16 million colors.

When was the color scheme of the seats at Allianz Arena changed?

After TSV 1860 Munich moved out in 2017, Bayern remained the sole host of the stadium. In the summer of 2018, the seats, which were previously in a neutral, gray color, were replaced. The new layout gave the middle tier a red color, and Bayern branding also appeared on the stands.

What other changes have taken place at the Allianz Arena?

On May 25, 2012, after 11 months of work, Bayern's club museum opened in the stadium. New, larger video screens were also installed during the 2017 summer break.

The stadium has undergone a number of other renovations and upgrades, but its overall form has remained unchanged since opening.

What events take place at Allianz Arena?

The creation of the Allianz Arena was largely helped by the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. During that tournament, the venue hosted four group stage matches (including the opening match), one Round of 16 game and a semifinal.

Allianz Arena also hosted four matches of Euro 2020 (postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and five matches of the Euro 2024 (again including the opening match).

On May 19, 2012, the stadium hosted the Champions League final. Bayern managed to advance to the final, facing London's Chelsea in the match for the trophy at their own stadium. However, after a thrilling encounter, the Londoners were the winners, having won after a series of penalty kicks. The next Champions League final at Allianz Arena is scheduled to take place in 2025.

The German national football team also occasionally plays at the stadium. Meanwhile, the venue for major concerts in Munich remains the Olympic Stadium.

Who is the host of Allianz Arena?

FC Bayern is the regular host of the stadium, and until 2017 the other club from Munich, TSV 1860, also played here. Allianz Arena also occasionally hosts Bayern's women's team or American football games (NFL International Series).

Bayern is the most successful soccer club in Germany and one of the most recognizable teams in Europe. Since the opening of Allianz Arena, the team has continued to achieve outstanding results (including winning 11 consecutive German championship titles between 2013 and 2023 – a record among Europe's biggest leagues, the "top 5"). The club regularly packs the stands, with more than half of league tickets sold as season tickets.

What does Allianz Arena look like?

The stadium is located on the northern outskirts of Munich. The facility has an oval form, and its external appearance is determined by a foil covering composed of distinctive rhomboidal cushions. A wide esplanade, more than half a kilometer long, leads into the stadium from the south, under which is the largest stadium parking lot in Europe.

The stadium's stands are fully covered and divided into three tiers, with a capacity of about 75,000 spectators. Underneath the stands is an extensive catering service, as well as a Bayern store and Germany's largest club museum.

How does the Allianz Arena look from the outside?

How is the exterior of Allianz Arena made?

The stadium is surrounded by a unique covering, created from 2784 rhomboidal airbags that form the facade and surface of the roof. The cushions are made of ETFE foil and are continuously inflated (the pressure can be adjusted, depending on the conditions outside). The rhomboid shape of the panels is a reference to the motifs present in the symbols of Bavaria and the Bayern coat of arms.

Some of the foil panels are translucent (93% transparency), while some (in the northern and eastern sections of the roof and the upper part of the facade) have been given a white tint. The 19 panels can be opened for ventilation.

The foil used to make the panels is only 0.2 mm thick. The individual cushions vary in size, with the smallest measuring 7.6 sq m and the largest 40.6 sq m. The panels can withstand extreme weather conditions and high temperatures, as well as snow cover of up to 1.6 meters. The material is non-flammable, cleans up with rainfall and has a lifespan of about 25 years.

How is Allianz Arena's facade illuminated?

The side panels that make up the exterior elevation (1,056 units) can be illuminated in 16 million colors, making the facade a huge multimedia screen. The lighting was upgraded in 2014–2015, previously the facade could only be illuminated in three colors: red, blue and white.

The colors can change at a rate of 40 frames per second, but according to the police recommendation, dynamic, rapidly changing arrangements are not displayed on the stadium's facade, as they could be too distracting to drivers traveling on nearby highways, leading to accidents.

The color in which Allianz Arena is illuminated depends on the circumstances. Typically, the facility is lit in red or red and white, in reference to Bayern's colors. If the German national team is playing in the stadium, the facade is illuminated in white. Compositions are also created for other occasions, for example, on St. Patrick's Day the stadium was illuminated in green, and after Franz Beckenbauer's death the inscription "Danke Franz" was displayed on the facade.

The Allianz Arena's illuminated facade can be seen even from the Alps on the Austrian side of the border. Interestingly, the LED lights are very energy-efficient at the same time – illuminating the facade costs just €50-60 per hour.

What signs adorn Allianz Arena facade?

The stadium's facade on the north and south sides is adorned with two large signs bearing the name of the stadium. The letters in the signboards are up to 4 meters high, and the Allianz logo has a diameter of 5.14 meters. Each signboard is nearly 40 meters long and weighs about 2.5 tons. The inscriptions are blue during the day and can be illuminated at night.

The signboards are equipped with ventilation to prevent overheating of electronic components, as well as heating (at the bottom) to counteract the formation of icicles in winter.

What are the dimensions of Allianz Arena?

The membrane covering takes up a total of 66,500 square meters and is the largest membrane covering of a stadium in the world. The illuminated section covers 25.5 thousand square meters. It is Germany's first and Europe's largest stadium with LED panels illuminated all around.

The dimensions of the stadium are 258 × 227 m, its height reaches 52 m and its circumference is 840 m. The structure has an oval form, with a convex facade and a roof that slopes slightly inward. The stadium is surrounded by an elevated (8.5 m above ground level) promenade, connecting to the esplanade to the south.

How does Allianz Arena look from the inside?

How are the stands of Allianz Arena constructed?

The stadium's stands match the shape of the field and are divided into three tiers. The lower level is inclined at an angle of about 24°, the middle level 30°, and the upper level 34°. The main stand and most of the VIP boxes are located on the west side.

Bayern's most passionate fans sit in the stand behind the south goal (Südkurve). Standing areas are located in the lower part of this stand. Sectors with standing room are also in the lower part of the corners on the opposite side. Supporters of visiting teams are allocated in the upper tier, in the northern part of the stadium and in the northwest corner.

The standing area in the Südkurve is equipped with special sets of folded seats placed in flat metal boxes, which are stacked on the steps of the stands. The sets can be disassembled relatively easily, turning this section into a seating area.

Color-wise, the middle tier has red seats, while the upper and lower tiers have gray seats. In addition, in the stand behind the north goal, the seats are arranged in the club's crest, and the inscriptions "FC Bayern München" and "Mia san mia" (the club motto) are on the stands along the pitch. Until 2018, the stands had only been equipped with identical gray seats.

What is the capacity of Allianz Arena?

The capacity of the stadium is 75,024 spectators, with a seating-only configuration of 70,000. There are a total of 13,342 places in the standing sections (9336 in the south stand and 4006 in the northern corners). There are 7,500 seats in the visitor sector.

Allianz Arena also offers 2,152 business seats, 106 VIP boxes (for a total of 1,371 guests), a press box for 300 journalists, 227 spaces for people using wheelchairs and the same number for their companions. All spectators have access to free WiFi.

In terms of capacity, the stadium ranks second in Germany: in an overall comparison, the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund is larger, and when considering capacity with seating only, Allianz Arena ranks behind the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

What kind of pitch does Allianz Arena have?

The pitch at Allianz Arena has standard football dimensions of 68 × 105 m (size of the entire field inside the stands: 83 × 120 m) and is equipped with drainage and a heating system. In 2023, the natural turf was replaced by a hybrid surface (hybrid turf was also present at Allianz Arena between 2014 and 2016).

In front of the west stand, next to the players' benches, there is a hydraulically raised hatch, underneath which is a staircase leading to a tunnel – this is where the players go out onto the field or come down to the locker rooms. The tunnel was inspired by the one at Camp Nou in Barcelona.

What can be found under the roof of Allianz Arena?

The auditorium is fully covered by a roof, under which there are folding blinds to regulate the amount of sunlight allowed inside. A sound system is also installed under the roof, as well as lighting (2,500 lux), which consists of 296 LED spotlights. The facility is also equipped with spectacular event lighting.

Above the stands behind the goals, 42.5 meters above the pitch, two video screens are suspended, each measuring 21.6 × 9.2 meters (198.72 sq m), weighing 18 tons and with a resolution of 3240 × 1380. The screens at the back have a second, smaller screen.

The roof does not cover the pitch, although it is interesting to note that the idea of enclosing the roof with a special flying balloon was considered at the planning stage.

What is under the stands of Allianz Arena?

The facility has 6,000 sq m of facilities on seven floors. The facilities under the stands include locker rooms, offices, conference and banquet rooms, a hospitality area, two fan restaurants (on the north and south stands, each capable of hosting up to 1,000 guests), a bistro for 400 people and 28 kiosks, as well as 1121 restrooms.

For the duration of the match, parents can leave their children in the stadium's playground. Under the eastern part of the stands is the club's store and museum.

Fifteen large staircases are spread around the building. The staircases are hidden just behind the facade and spaced every 45 meters. The building is equipped with air conditioning (with a total capacity of 3.2 MW) and heating (5.2 MW).

What can be seen at the Bayern museum?

Opened in 2012, the Bayern Munich museum covers an area of 3050 sq m and is the largest club museum in Germany. There you can learn about the history of Bayern and its associated figures, see replicas of all the trophies won by the club and many other exhibits and multimedia presentations. A tour of the entire stadium is also available.

Where is Allianz Arena located?

The facility was built in the northern suburbs of Munich, about 10 km from the center, at the junction of two highways (A9 and A99). A wide esplanade leads into the stadium from the south.

What does the esplanade leading to Allianz Arena look like?

A 543-meter-long and 136-meter-wide above-ground esplanade leads into the stadium from the south. In the northern part, the esplanade connects to a promenade circling the stadium. Here there are gates equipped with readers and scanners through which fans enter the venue.

The esplanade is covered with grass and crisscrossed with sigmoidal alleys, a reference to the landscape of the nearby meadows and heathland (Fröttmaninger Heide), among which irregular paths lead. The boulevard, which is more than half a kilometer long, is the main route for many fans to take when they arrive at the stadium.

What are the parking options around Allianz Arena?

Under the esplanade is a four-story parking lot with spaces for 9800 cars (this is the largest stadium parking lot in Europe). Beneath the stadium is another two-story parking lot for 1,200 vehicles, and the surrounding area also has parking for visiting fans (900 spaces) and 350 bus parking spaces.

In addition, there are 85 parking spaces dedicated to motorcycles and 400 bicycle parking spaces near the stadium.

Can Allianz Arena be reached by subway?

Near Allianz Arena, at the southern end of the esplanade, is the Fröttmaning subway station on line 6, which was rebuilt when the stadium was created.

What monument is located in front of Allianz Arena?

On September 12, 2023, a statue of Gerd Müller, the striker, Bayern Munich and German national team legend who died in 2021, was unveiled on the esplanade. The bronze sculpture by Karel Fron is 1.5 times the footballer's natural size, and measures 4.2 meters including the base.

Where are Bayern's training facilities located?

Bayern Munich's training fields are located on Säbener Strasse, just south of the city center. Between 2015 and 2017, about 3 km west of Allianz Arena, on the other side of Fröttmaninger Heide, a new facility (FC Bayern Campus) was also built, dedicated primarily to youth, as well as the women's section. The complex covers 30 hectares, and includes a small stadium with stands for 2,500 people.

What is the name of Bayern Munich's stadium?

From the very beginning, the stadium's title sponsor has been the well-known insurance company Allianz (headquartered in Munich), so the facility is called Allianz Arena. This is not the only stadium sponsored by Allianz – the word "Allianz" in its name also received the venues in Sydney, Saint Paul, Nice, São Paulo, Vienna, Turin and London, but "Allianz Arena" is the only one.

At the planning stage, the facility was referred to as "Stadion in Fröttmaning" (after the district). The partnership with Allianz was announced at the final selection of the architectural concept, on February 8, 2002. The naming rights agreement initially ran until June 30, 2021; in 2014, the contract was extended to 2041. The Munich stadium was the first to be included in Allianz's portfolio and is still the most recognizable of the group.

How Allianz Arena compares to other Bundesliga stadiums?