The Allianz Arena in north Munich is no ordinary football stadium. As well as being the home of the German record champions, it’s also a good place for debuts and firsts. Numerous sportsmen and sportswomen made use of this again in 2022, as the following firsts show.
07.01.2022: The youngest of all time
When Paul Wanner crossed the white line at the Arena in the 75th minute of the match against Borussia Mönchengladbach, not only was a big Bayern talent appearing on the big stage for the first time, but the fans watching on screen (they still weren’t allowed in the stadium) were also witnessing a record. Wanner became the youngest ever player to feature for FCB in the Bundesliga at the age of 16 years and 15 days.
22.03.2022: Arena debut for Bayern Women
The Women’s Champions League quarter-final against PSG was an exciting occasion for two reasons. First, of course, there was a place in the semi-finals up for grabs, and secondly Bayern Women played in front of more fans than ever before – 13,000 – and at the Allianz Arena. The game ended in a 2-1 defeat, but the atmosphere was nevertheless brilliant.
01.05.2022: Sustainable turf
Since 2022, the grass in the Arena has been lit more sustainably. Turf manufacturer SGL has developed a system that intelligently calculates how much light and heat each part of the pitch needs. This type of LED lighting saves up to 40 percent energy and is used across the board only in Munich.
23.06.2022: In a different light
Over the past 12 month, the Arena has again been lit up in various special colours and patterns. When Sadio Mané signed for Bayern, his signature was displayed across the façade. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Arena lit up in the national colours of blue and yellow as a sign of solidarity.
13.11.2022: NFL on the pitch
For this game, foundations were laid for the field goals, the field of play was extended and more showers were installed. The effort was worth it: the atmosphere during the first NFL regular season game in Germany between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was fantastic. To be continued.
FC Bayern once again displayed its social conscience in 2022. Together we look back on five extraordinary acts away from the pitch:
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