The SAP Garden has just opened, and on October 3rd, FC Bayern Basketball will debut against Real Madrid in their second home arena. Before things really get started, here's a "51" report from the new super arena in the Olympic Park.
Marko Pesic points to a bench under a few trees. "Shade," he says, where they can talk more comfortably. The CEO of FC Bayern Basketball couldn't have picked a better spot. He and the new sports director, Dragan Tarlac, have just taken a walk around the new SAP Garden, after inspecting the final construction work inside. From here, there's an impressive view. The SAP Garden nestles into the hills of the Olympic Park, and if you take a few steps, you can see the Olympic Tower peeking over the roof of Munich's new sports arena. Modern meets tradition.
After four years of construction, the excitement is palpable—the new arena is considered one of the most modern in the world. Starting Thursday, it will be Bayern's second home venue. The team has only visited the arena once to check it out and do some light training. The ice hockey team RB München has already moved in. The arena is also designed for public sports use, making it a new hub for everyone. "Munich can be proud of this new attraction," says Pesic, "it expands the city's entire sports landscape. It's something truly great."
For FC Bayern Basketball, the construction of the SAP Garden represents, according to Pesic, "the crowning achievement of the past decade. There were always significant question marks: Can basketball succeed in Munich? How will the sport establish itself here? Can Bayern even manage this?" And now, the former national player gestures toward the new giant of the Olympic Park. In his eyes, this is the club's greatest and most sustainable achievement: "Basketball has found its place as the second sport, which wasn't easy in a football-centric city like Munich. And the SAP Garden will push this development forward, making our sport even more popular."
The Spirit of the Olympic Park
The SAP Garden is a standout attraction, a new gathering place and symbol of both home and progress—two concepts that aren't mutually exclusive in sports, nor in Munich's history; in fact, quite the opposite. Pesic wasn't born yet during the 1972 Olympics, "but everyone knows that this event still has a lasting impact today." Back then, the basketball tournament took place at what is now the BMW Park in Westpark.
His own life story is somewhat linked to the Olympic Park as well. When his father, Svetislav Pesic, coached the German national team to the European Championship title in 1993, the entire family spent four or five days in Munich, "which I’ll never forget." At that time, he had no idea that he would one day live in Munich, "but the spirit here was palpable, you could feel something special, especially on this site."
Pesic sat a few rows behind his father’s bench during three German EuroBasket games. He still remembers every detail. Quarterfinal: "Against Spain, the arena half empty, win in the last second." Semifinal: "Opponent Greece, the arena packed, lots of Greeks, of course, since they have a strong community here." Then the final: "Against Russia – the arena full of German fans."
The attendance back then is a small glimpse into today's reality, an analogy to the steadily growing interest in basketball over the past years. "I’ve always felt that something could happen here in Munich, that there’s potential," says Pesic, squinting his eyes to look across the SAP Garden. It fits so well into the landscape, he explains, that you have to praise the architects and everyone involved in bringing the arena to life. For instance, from this vantage point, you can’t even see it: the roof is greened to blend elegantly into the historical surroundings.
A walk around the new arena also brings you across a few names that help contextualize the environment. The public bus stops at "Toni-Merkens-Weg," in front of the SAP Garden, named after the German Olympic track cycling champion from 1936. A few steps further, after passing through an underpass by an athletics area, you reach the mighty oval of the Olympic Stadium. The street sign there reads "Louis-Spiridon-Ring," named after the first Olympic marathon winner. That was in 1896, a long time ago, when the historic long-distance race was introduced into the Olympic program.
The development of basketball in Munich has been something of a marathon as well—everyone involved has certainly shown great endurance.
Spinde in Sattrot
Dragan Tarlac, towering at an impressive 2.10 meters, is deeply impressed by how determined FC Bayern is in achieving its basketball goals: “This is one of the best-organized clubs in European basketball. Great people work here, and they’ve built something extraordinary. When Marko explained the future plans to me, it was a logical step for me to join Bayern. I wanted to reach a new level now.”
The 51-year-old left his Serbian homeland at 18 to become a professional player. Among other achievements, he won the EuroLeague and five Greek championships with Olympiacos Piraeus, and also played for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA, as well as for Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow. With the Serbian national team, he celebrated a European Championship victory in 2001 under coach Pesic, having already finished third with the team in 1999. After his playing career, he most recently worked as the sporting director for the Serbian national team. Well-traveled and highly connected, Tarlac says, “The SAP Garden can easily compete with any arena in the world. Something unique has been created here. This arena elevates basketball to an entirely new level—not just in this city.”
On this day, Pesic has specifically brought Tarlac along to inspect the interior of the arena. Bayern’s locker room shines with deep red lockers, and a massive club logo glows overhead. Tarlac is asked what it’s like for a player to move into a new arena. “It’s a challenge; you need some time to grasp the new scale,” he says, “but it inspires you. It won’t take long before the team feels at home here.”
He and Pesic are quite relaxed during the photoshoot in the locker room, joking like familiar teammates. Also present in the locker room are the trophies from last season's double victory, serving as both motivation and obligation.
"This new arena should help us compete in Europe. We’re confident that some games will go better for us here," says Pesic. He’s optimistic: the hiring of coach Gordon Herbert speaks for itself, and key players like Carsen Edwards and Nick Weiler-Babb have extended their contracts. Additionally, World Champion Johannes Voigtmann has joined the team. Pesic adds, "There’s a certain hunger. The players want to go for it."
"The bar is set high by the BMW Park"
Pesic looks around the locker room again as the two trophies are packed away. Earlier, they walked all the routes: from the players’ parking lots to the locker room, and from there to the court. "We haven’t played a game here yet, but it already feels great," he says. "It was a major challenge to house two sports in one arena—especially since our BMW Park, where we ’ve just installed the spectacular LED video glass floor, and where we’ll continue to play, has set a high standard."
During their walkthrough, Pesic had just explained to Tarlac what a key component was in building the new arena: "We wanted to replicate the special atmosphere of BMW Park." Despite the arena being twice the size, they succeeded. "We still wanted that close connection between the fans and the team, so we brought the stands as close to the court as possible. The standing area in the south curve is just as close as it is in BMW Park, and the team will continue to make their post-game rounds through the arena. Munich is our home. That’s something we’ll live by."
And the fans will feel it—in new dimensions, here, elegantly nestled in the shadow of the Olympic Tower. The journey is about to begin.
Photos: Fritz Beck