The Allianz Arena, venue for the Opening Match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and home to leading football clubs Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munich, is truly a stadium of the superlatives, boasting a capacity of up to 69,000 and featuring a unique, illuminated outer facade.
The 69,000 capacity Allianz Arena, set to host the Opening Match of the 2006 World Cup, is reckoned to be Europe's most modern stadium. The exterior provides its most extraordinary feature: at Bayern home games, a cascade of red is projected onto the smooth translucent shell, transforming the structure into a luminous beacon visible for miles around. Naturally, the colour switches to blue when TSV 1860 are the home team, while the shell gleams a bright white during the day.
Once inside, facilities for fans and business guests encompass the widest imaginable range, with a vast choice of catering, entertainment and leisure areas, Halls of Fame, crèche and kindergarten services, fan megastores, offices and conference rooms to name but a few. No less than 6,500 square metres is given over to restaurant, snack and bar areas.
Even die-hard fans have been stunned at how close they are to the pitch. Unlike the Olympic stadium, there is no running track and no curve at the ends of the ground, a feature warmly welcomed by Bayern head coach Felix Magath. "I really don't know if there's another stadium where the spectators are as close as here at the Allianz Arena," the 52-year-old remarked.
Bayern general manager Uli Hoeneß shared the coach's enthusiasm. "We'll see history written at this stadium," the senior official declared, "my hope is we'll continue to play dream football at this dream stadium."
Once inside, facilities for fans and business guests encompass the widest imaginable range, with a vast choice of catering, entertainment and leisure areas, Halls of Fame, crèche and kindergarten services, fan megastores, offices and conference rooms to name but a few. No less than 6,500 square metres is given over to restaurant, snack and bar areas.
Even die-hard fans have been stunned at how close they are to the pitch. Unlike the Olympic stadium, there is no running track and no curve at the ends of the ground, a feature warmly welcomed by Bayern head coach Felix Magath. "I really don't know if there's another stadium where the spectators are as close as here at the Allianz Arena," the 52-year-old remarked.
Bayern general manager Uli Hoeneß shared the coach's enthusiasm. "We'll see history written at this stadium," the senior official declared, "my hope is we'll continue to play dream football at this dream stadium."
