Allianz arena
FC Bayern München/TSV 1860 München
capacity 69.901 (with standing)
Same old Germans........(stadiums that is!)
Final stop in the European tour (for footy grounds anyway thanks to the French Footbal Federation!) was the Allianz. In as much as the San Siro sums up Italian stereotypes, the Allianz does the same for German...and then some. Frequent readers to this site (and anyone who knows the owners) will be have been bored senseless about how there is only one country that does football and football grounds well and that is Germany. Coming to a place like this, you realise that those statements are made for a reason! Firstly, it was designed and built throughout as a partnership (of ideas and values at least) between local people, business and both Munich clubs...yes for you uneducated EPL numpties there are two! As such the ground is capable of making Bayern feel at home when it is packed out and 1860 also even when it is not. It is also only allowed for football...not music concerts or anything else like that. It is beautifully designed, plenty of space, has parking (underground so you cannot see them) for over 10,000 cars, has the capacity to sell 22,000 litres of beer and 20,000 bratwurst per game, has an indoor bar (one each for both clubs) with the Bayern one capable of holding nearly 2,000 people, has standing area (although I am not sure why it is so small), is right by the motorway so you get in and out easily, has a huge station nearby and is clean and shiny even though it is now over 6 years old and used every week. Don't get me wrong, there are better grounds in Germany to go to (for a variety of reasons) but to me this place just typifies what is good about German football grounds. Made for the fans, engineered and built superbly and does not leave you feeling you have just sat in a concrete bowl.
I have not been to the new Wembley so maybe I should not comment but although it has a capacity of 30,000 or so less it cost a fraction of the price (our guide indicated it was one third of the cost) and for me, I know who got the better deal all round.
ps...I discovered the panorama function on my camera as well!
I have not been to the new Wembley so maybe I should not comment but although it has a capacity of 30,000 or so less it cost a fraction of the price (our guide indicated it was one third of the cost) and for me, I know who got the better deal all round.
ps...I discovered the panorama function on my camera as well!