During a break at the Seehaus beer garden in the Englischer Garten, Roy Makaay parked his bike, took off his helmet and asked with a grin: “Who has the yellow jersey so far?” The 50-strong FC Bayern group was on a sporting journey as the club had initiated a campaign prior to the 2-0 win against Freiburg to raise awareness among fans of how easily it is to attend home games at the Allianz Arena this way.
Herbert Hainer: “Sustainability is important to FC Bayern”
“I’m delighted to welcome you all here today in your cycling gear,” said president Herbert Hainer, introducing the event at Wittelsbacher Platz in the heart of Munich. “Why are we organising this cycling ride to our Allianz Arena? Because sustainability is important to FC Bayern. We want to show visitors that cycling to FC Bayern's home games is a wonderful option.” The logistics at the Allianz Arena are in place, said the president, “and we will explore the route together in a moment. As so often in this beautiful city, it could hardly be more beautiful – along the Isar, through the Englischer Garten, until at some point the unmistakable façade of the Allianz Arena appears in front of us. It's about our environment, it's about the future, and it will do us all good. Let's go watch FC Bayern. I wish us all lots of fun and strong calves!”
President Herbert Hainer welcomed the participants in the bike campaign at Wittelsbacher Platz: “A wonderful option to reach FC Bayern's home games by bike.”
Alongside the president were Markus Weinzierl, the new sporting director of the FC Bayern Campus, legends Karin Danner, Makaay and Raimond Aumann, Jürgen Muth (managing director of the Allianz Arena), Daniel Sack (head of the handball department) and fans of the German record champions, including those from the QUEERPASS fan club. Skiing icon Felix Neureuther and former ice hockey player Martin Buchwieser also agreed to pedal in favour of sustainability. The City of Munich was represented by city councillor Christian Smolka and Georg Dunkel from the mobility department with greetings from Mayor Dieter Reiter, who praised the campaign in a speech because it fits in with the city's concept of promoting cycling.
Through the Englischer Garten to the Allianz Arena
The Allianz Arena can be reached by bike through the Englischer Garten.
After refreshments at the Seehaus, the tour continued through the Englischer Garten. And after less than an hour's cycling time, the group reached the Allianz Arena, where Berni was waving a huge FCB flag at the official bicycle parking spaces to the north of the stadium. The conclusions were consistently positive. Neureuther said that this was a particularly good thing for families with children: “An experience like this together on the way to the game, something that children won't forget for the rest of their lives.” Weinzierl praised the “beautiful area”, and stadium manager Muth said: “If you do it once, you'll definitely do it again. We are happy about every fan who comes by bike.” Hainer declared that it was “certainly not my last cycle ride to the Allianz Arena”, and Danner made a final appeal: “Set an example. People, get on your bikes!” Even without the yellow jersey as in the Tour de France, the Allianz Arena is still worth a trip - and the most beautiful jerseys are those of FC Bayern anyway, which are also great to cycle in.
There are many routes to the Allianz Arena:
Here is the official Munich cycling map:
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