The making of the Allianz Arena
A vision of the future becomes reality
Many obstacles had to be overcome and thorny problems solved before the new temple of football to the north of Munich finally opened for business in May 2005.
We review the critical milestones on the marathon journey, starting with the original vision in spring 1997 through to the exciting development´s still taking place today.
We also present the fascinating time-lapse images captured every month from two fixed vantage points between March 2002 and May 2005, uniquely documenting the emergence of the finest stadium in Europe.
"Making of the Allianz Arena" video (German language)
March 1997 - The Vision
The two Munich clubs achieved some remarkable successes this year. FC Bayern München won the championship again, and TSV 1860 München took part in the UEFA Cup. According to Franz Beckenbauer, "Watching football should be fun and a great experience for everyone." And that is precisely why the fans are demanding a new stadium designed for football. But the city doesn't want to build an entirely new facility, but rather to restructure the Olympic stadium.
September 1997 - The Endorsement
The administrative board of FC Bayern München, which is chaired by Bavaria's Minister President Edmund Stoiber, votes to build a stadium for its team. Around 500 million German marks are to be invested in the project. But the city sticks to the idea of restructuring the Olympic stadium.
January 2001 - The Alliance
After lengthy debate on whether to restructure or build anew, FC Bayern and TSV 1860 form a coalition to construct a new stadium for their teams. A seating capacity of 66,000 and modern architecture are to attract spectators to the stadium. But the city of Munich first has to find a suitable location for the football arena.
February 2001 - The Search for a Site
Five potential locations have been found! At a new summit meeting of all those in charge, the following sites are considered:
- the area north of the Riem Fairgrounds
- Fröttmaning
- Freiham
- the southern Olympic Park
- the university sports grounds
July 2001 - Fröttmaning
The die is cast. The new site will be Munich-Fröttmaning. But the stadium committee still has reason to be nervous, because the citizens of Munich have the last word in a referendum on 21 October 2001. The campaign to gain votes can start.
August 2001 - The Competition
Elite architects from around the world vie for the honor of designing the stadium. FC Bayern and TSV 1860 announce the eight planning committees that have made the short list. And now the race with time begins, because the designs have to be finished by November.
21 October 2001 - The Referendum
"A new stadium in Fröttmaning - yes or no?" An overwhelming majority of the citizens of Munich vote for the new stadium. Now nothing stands in the way of a modern football arena!
November 2001: The shortlist
Two of the eight designs have made it to the next round. The Swiss architects JacquesHerzog and Pierre de Meuron and the Hamburg office of Gerkan and Volkwin Marg emerged as the winners of the first round.
December 2001: Stadion GmbH
The two major Munich football clubs FC Bayern and TSV 1860 each take a 50% stake in stadium construction and operating company, München Stadion GmbH.
8 February 2002 - Herzog / de Meuron
Everything is set. The highest evaluation committee for the stadium construction project in Munich has made its recommendation, and the developers - the FC Bayern München and TSV 1860 München - have selected the model submitted by the Herzog/de Meuron architects. It was announced at the same time that the new home stadium of the two long-standing Munich clubs will be called the Allianz Arena.
May 2002: Building application
After completion of the regional planning application in December as a precondition to obtaining the right to build, the building application is officially submitted.
21 October 2002: Laying of foundation stone
The symbolic green light for work to start on the most modern stadium in Europe. In the presence of Federal Interior Minister Otto Schily, Bavarian Prime Minister Dr Edmund Stoiber, Lord Mayor Christian Ude and other guests from the worlds of sports, politics and business, the foundation stone is lowered from the heavens accompanied by a spectacular laser show.
20 December 2002: Brand awareness
According to a poll carried out by market research institute Sport+Markt, the Allianz Arena is already the second most recognised brand at a national level. The poll questioned football fans about business names in association with football arenas.
13 February 2003: Planning permission
The Allianz Arena passes the final bureaucratic hurdle as planning permission is granted. München Stadion GmbH joint Managing Directors Dr Fritz Scherer and Karl-Heinz Wildmoser Jnr take delivery of the documents at the City Planning Department.
19 September 2003: Construction proceeds apace
Lord Mayor Christian Ude marks the rapid progress at the site by symbolically pouring the 100,000th cubic meter of concrete at a reception for the entire construction team.
04 November 2003: 2006 FIFA World Cup™
World governing body FIFA's Organising Committee finalises the schedule for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. The Allianz Arena will host the prestigious Opening Match, three preliminary round games, one quarter-final and one semi-final, a total of six games.
20 November 2003: Another milestone
The first of the twelve main steel beams for the roof of the Allianz Arena is spectacularly lifted into place and secured.
26 March 2004: Basic structural work completed
The basic shell of the stadium is completed on schedule. The final 4.5 cubic meters of concrete are ceremonially poured into the last area in the stadium to be concreted.
17 May 2004: Allianz Arena earns Fire Prevention Award
The Allianz Arena wins the 2003 German Fire Prevention Award for its outstanding fire prevention plan. The award is the principal accolade in Germany for fire prevention in buildings.
26 May 2004: First foil panel mounted
The first of 2,874 air-filled foil cushions, which will form the approximately 64,000 square metre laminate façade, is mounted on the South Stand.
05 July 2004: Esplanade finished
The last concreted ceilings are poured, completing structural work on the Esplanade. The biggest multi-storey car-park in Europe has been constructed in approximately 14 months.
18 September 2004: First seat installed
After all the pre-cast terracing elements and stairway blocks are mounted in all three tiers, the first silver-grey seats are installed in the executive box area.
21 October 2004: First official lighting test
The first official lighting test on the façade is carried out using 120 of the foil cushions, an area of approximately 4,200 square metres.
27 October 2004: 2006 FIFA World Cup™
World governing body FIFA's Organising Committee nominates the German national team to contest the Opening Match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ on 9 June 2006 in Munich.
05 November 2004: External façade
The entire external façade is completed. Within a year an approximately 12,000 square metre façade has been put in place, of which some 5,000 square metres is glass.
13 December 2004: Address
The Allianz Arena receives an official postal address:
Allianz Arena
München Stadion GmbH
Werner-Heisenberg-Allee 25
80939 Munich
13 January 2005: Commendation
The VdK Bayern disabled persons' association commends the Allianz Arena Stadion GmbH management for outstanding disability access planning and implementation at the arena.
28 February 2005: First Video Wall installed
In icy cold weather, the first of the two 100 square metre, 12 tonne video walls (LED screens featuring around 150,000 pixels) is hoisted into place 42.5 m above the South Stand.
08 March 2005: Last foil panel installed
The exterior of the Allianz Arena is complete: the last of the 2,874 foil cushions is installed on the North side, giving a total area of 64,000 square metres (38,000 square metres of roof and 26,000 square metres of façade).
16 April 2005: Playing surface laid
In just two days, 8,000 square metres of rolled turf is delivered and immediately laid on the 72 by 111 m pitch at the Allianz Arena.
18 April 2005: 'Allianz Arena' logo installed
The twelve illuminated letters of the 'Allianz Arena' logo are mounted in two high profile sites on the new stadium.
30 April 2005: Completion
Lead construction company Alpine Bau GmbH officially hands over the completed Allianz Arena to new owners München Stadion GmbH.
04 May 2005: Infrastructure
The road network round the stadium is completed. The newly-built connecting roads will be officially opened on 4 May together with the new Fröttmaning U-Bahn (underground) station.
19 May 2005: Official dry run
Veterans' teams representing Bayern and TSV 1860 meet in a pre-opening match at the Allianz Arena in front of 30,000 spectators, as access routes, admission procedures, catering and many other systems undergo a real-life test.
30 & 31 May 2005: Gala Opening Events
As the first of the home teams, TSV 1860 take the field for the inaugural match, a traditional Bavarian derby against 1. FC Nuremberg. Bayern Munich face the German national team in the second opening celebration the following day.
15 June 2005: Bernd Rauch steps down
Allianz Arena München Stadion GmbH Managing Director Bernd Rauch passes the reins to his successor, Peter Kerspe.
5 August 2005: Inaugural match
A capacity 66,000 crowd witness Bayern defeat Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga opening match, the first-ever competitive fixture at the new stadium.
9 September 2005: TSV 1860 play to first-ever full house
TSV 1860 München attract a 66,000 capacity crowd on the second division's fourth matchday, although the Lions fall 2-1 against Dynamo Dresden.
12 September 2005: Awareness on the rise
Unprompted awareness of the Allianz Arena rises from 36% to an impressive 73%, the highest value in German sports sponsorship.
27 September 2005: Champions League
Bayern defeat Club Bruges 1-0 in front of a capacity crowd in the first UEFA Champions League fixture at the new ground.
10 November 2005: A new playing surface
After 22 matches, a completely new 8,000 square metre playing surface is laid in the space of just 24 hours.
16 January 2006: Capacity increase
City authorities approve a 3,901 capacity increase to a new total of 69,901.
17 March 2006: Pitch re-laid a second time
After eighteen further matches (including Bayern's first defeat at home after a 12-game winning streak) and an unusually harsh winter, the playing surface is re-laid for the second time.
27 April 2006: Bayern Munich acquires Lions´ share
FC Bayern Munich have acquired a 100 percent stake in the Allianz Arena after purchasing TSV 1860 Munich's 50 percent share in holding company Allianz Arena Munich Stadium GmbH for €11 million. TSV 1860 will buy back their share by repaying the money with interest in four years at the latest.
