Over-65 members discuss future in FC Bayern Museum

All eyes were fixed ahead, where the Viktoria trophy sat enthroned in a display case. They were explaining inside the FC Bayern Museum in the Allianz Arena how the Reds had won the German Championship for the first time in 1932. The 35 invited members listened spellbound. Observing the group, an interesting row catches the eye: standing side by side are members wearing a 125th anniversary jersey with Franz Beckenbauer's No.5, Thomas Müller's No.25, a backpack with the print ‘Mia san Mia’ and an FCB jersey with the self-created ‘Mr Wembley Number 10’. FC Bayern had invited the over-65s to an exclusive exchange – a forward-looking workshop with long-standing companions. “We’re building on your experience, your perspectives and your ideas to shape FC Bayern for the future, and we hope that you will join us in our commitment to our club,” said president Herbert Hainer in his welcome speech. “Because together with you, we want to work to ensure that our club remains a place where everyone feels at home in the future – from young to old.”

Football is changing rapidly, said Hainer in his introduction: “Clubs are increasingly becoming footballing corporations. But FC Bayern wants to be more than just a sports club. It is a home for everyone – across generations, a real family. We want to preserve this unique character and keep it alive. That won't happen by itself.” That is why the club has developed a variety of dialogue formats for its members: “We want to listen and demonstrate that every voice counts, especially the voices of people who have been with us for decades.”

Together with his deputy vice-president Walter Mennekes, Hainer and the club management team led by managing directors Benny Folkmann and Kiki Hasenpusch, along with Jasmin Gaßner, Jenny Sajons (both from the membership department) and Luis Trapp (promotion of physical activity), were available to members for a Weißwurst breakfast and then a workshop format to develop ideas together. All those present, such as Werner Simmerl from Munich, a member since 1970 with membership number 365, and Christa Klein-Gallwitz from Herten, who had travelled 634 kilometres to attend, “represent a deep, long-standing connection with our club,” explained Hainer. “But it's not just your loyalty that makes you so valuable to us. Your opinion is important to us because you form the foundation of our FC Bayern.”

Since 2022, FC Bayern has developed various dialogue formats to engage in regular communication with its members, said Mennekes. “We want to involve the younger generation through our TEENS CLUB as well as the so-called silver generation, who can also actively participate in the club through our new volunteer programme, PACK MA'S.” Angelika Zellner, who said, “I'm as happy today as I was as a little girl”, took the opportunity to sign up right away: “I want to do something with children, and I'm willing to travel 500 kilometres to do so.”

Klaus Krumfuß had travelled over 600 kilometres to attend this event, “but it was worth it. You feel like you're part of the FC Bayern family.” That was confirmed by Rudi Raab: “That typical Bavarian attitude of being able to speak your mind, that ‘Mia san Mia’ spirit, you could really feel it today.” Margit Hetzer-Hernandez wore a ‘Red Against Racism’ jersey with her ‘Mia san Mia’ bag. This initiative is important to her, she said, “I also have the cap and always wear it to the stadium. This message is very important in these difficult times, and both the club and its members stand for it.”

To round off the event on the pitch at the Allianz Arena, Mennekes initiated a Mexican wave, and Hainer gave all participants, who had been selected from over 200 registrations, the key message of the day to take home with them: “You are an integral part of our FC Bayern family. We want you to feel that – today and in the future! Thank you for being Bayern.”