Allianz Arena, is a football stadium with a 75,000 seating capacity in Munich, Germany. It is the first stadium in the world with a full colour changing exterior. The home of FC Bayern Munich, it was also meant to serve TSV 1860 Munich, but the club has since moved to Olympiastadion due to financial constraints.
The stadium was officially opened on 30 May 2005 with a friendly match between TSV 1860 Munich and 1. FC Nürnberg. The construction of the stadium began in 2002 and it was completed by the end of April 2005. The stadium was designed by Swiss architect, Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron of Herzog & de Meuron. The stadium's construction cost was around €340 million.
Allianz Arena is a UEFA category four stadium and is known for its unique facade of inflated ETFE plastic panels, it is the second largest arena in Germany behind Signal Iduna Park. It has been host to numerous prestigious matches, including the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final. It was also one of the stadiums for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In 2022, it is scheduled to host the final of the 2022 UEFA Champions League. The stadium is also known for its iconic exterior, which can be lit up in different colours. By its fifteenth anniversary, Allianz Arena had welcomed more than 50 million visitors. The stadium is one of the potential venues for the 2024 UEFA European Championship.
The Allianz Arena, located in the district of Fröttmaning in the north of Munich, is the home stadium of two of Germany's most notable football clubs: FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munich. The stadium, which is owned by FC Bayern Munich, replaced the clubs' former home, the Munich Olympic Stadium. The Allianz Arena is the first stadium in the world to have a full color-changing exterior, thanks to the ETFE-foil air panels that are lit from the inside and can be illuminated in different colors.
The Allianz Arena's construction began in October 2002, with the official groundbreaking ceremony led by the then Mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, and representatives of both football clubs. The stadium was designed by Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, who took inspiration from a boat's inflatable rubber dinghy.
The stadium was completed and opened to the public in May 2005, with the inaugural match held between the two home teams, FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munich. The match ended in a draw, but nonetheless marked a new era for both clubs. The total cost of the arena was approximately €340 million.
The arena's name, 'Allianz', comes from its sponsor, Allianz SE, a multinational financial services company headquartered in Munich. However, due to UEFA regulations, the stadium is referred to as 'Fußball Arena München' ('Football Arena Munich') during UEFA events and 'München Arena' during FIFA events. This is because UEFA and FIFA do not allow stadium naming rights to be sold to sponsors.
Over the years, the Allianz Arena has hosted several high-profile football matches, including the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final between Chelsea FC and Bayern Munich. The stadium has also hosted numerous concerts and other events, showcasing its versatility as a venue.
With a seating capacity of 75,000 for international matches and approximately 70,000 for domestic matches, the Allianz Arena is the third-largest stadium in Germany, behind Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund and the Olympiastadion in Berlin. The stadium offers excellent visibility from all seats and is known for its unique atmosphere, particularly during night matches when the entire stadium is lit up in the home team's colors.
The Allianz Arena is more than just a stadium; it's a landmark and symbol of Munich. Its unique design, combined with its state-of-the-art facilities, ensures that it will continue to be one of the world's leading football venues for years to come.
A suitable site, with excellent accessibility and sufficient space for future expansion, was found in the northern part of the Schwabing-Freimann borough in Munich. Due to its location on the Fröttmaning Heath, the new stadium was initially known as 'Fröttmaning Stadium'.
The ambition of the club was always to own both the stadium and the surrounding land, although initially a lease was agreed upon with the city of Munich, with a final purchase taking place in 2006. The plans for the sports complex were drawn up as early as the late 1990s by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron.
Driven by FC Bayern Munich's president, Franz Beckenbauer, the members endured an increased fee for supporting the construction costs for the new stadium, offered large donations, and some even volunteered their time on the construction site during holidays or weekends. There was also a 'brick campaign', whereby large quantities of bricks were donated to the club.
Construction officially began on 21 October 2002. Just over two and a half years later, and at a cost of €340 million, on 30 May 2005, a crowd of 66,000 filled the stadium for the inaugural match between FC Nürnberg and FC Bayern Munich.
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