For around 60 members of the FC Bayern fan club DC Bayern Capitol 11, it was “Goodbye Washington and Servus Munich” at the start of last week as they set off on a week-long visit to the Bavarian state capital. As well as three stadium visits in the space of four days, the trip provided various other highlights for the travelling Bayern fans. fcbayern.com accompanied the fan club from the US capital over the whole week and looks back over the special moments from the past week.
Arrival in Munich & Champions League night at the Allianz Arena
After FC Bayern visited fans in Washington last summer as part of the Audi Summer Tour, they returned the favour. Following a flight lasting around 10 hours, the American Bayern supporters arrived in Munich and immediately went exploring through Munich on Wednesday afternoon. As well as sightseeing, there was of course a visit to a traditional Bavarian pub. The first highlight of the week awaited the group in the evening with Bayern’s Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Allianz Arena.
Campus visit & stadium tour
There was little time for the fans to rest after the magnificent Champions League night, as the next morning had another highlight in store: a visit to the FC Bayern Campus. The fan club enjoyed a tour around the German record champions’ academy centre as well as lunch together at the clubhouse.
After that, they went just a few kilometres away to the Allianz Arena. On a tour of Bayern’s home stadium, the fans marvelled at everything from the dressing rooms to the Mixed Zone. They let their impressions sink in over dinner at the Paulaner Nockherberg to round off the day.
Insight into the Kurt Landauer Foundation’s remembrance work
Friday was another fun-filled day for the American fan club, starting with a visit to the German record champions’ training ground on Säbener Straße. The group also got an insight into the remembrance work of the Kurt Landauer Foundation, which was presented by Simon Müller. In the evening, it was a short walk to the Grünwalder Stadion for the FC Bayern reserves’ match against TSV Buchbach.
Home game against Augsburg & meeting with Stefan Effenberg
There was a very special treat for the DC Bayern Capitol 11 members on Saturday afternoon. Before the Bavarian derby against FC Augsburg, they got to meet Bayern legend Stefan Effenberg in person at the FC Bayern Museum. The former midfielder appeared impressed by the American fan culture at the ‘Meet&Greet’ and promised the supporters a return visit to the States soon. “I think it’s first-class that they’re coming here to watch two games. Credit also to FC Bayern themselves for organising it. Things like this are what make FC Bayern,” commented the former FCB captain.
Open training on Sunday morning
A special week was rounded off by attending Bayern’s opening training session on Sunday morning. For the members of DC Bayern Capitol 11, an incredible time in Germany came to an end, and one which will probably have a special place in all of their memories. As fan club chairman Michael Hedge attested: “We’ve had an extremely good time here in Munich. We were all really looking forward to this trip and were happy that everything was so well planned from FC Bayern’s side.”
By the way, for all those who’d like to learn more about DC Bayern Capitol 11, there’ll soon be a video documentary on their time in Munich. Stay tuned!
At the start of the month, president Herbert Hainer visited the fan clubs in his home of Lower Bavaria:
