Man City fans’ guide to Munich
Posted on 2nd December 2013
While our International Ground Guide is undergoing some maintenance, we thought we’d provide our usual service of advice and information for travelling supporters in brief blog form.
Once up and running again our ground guide will cover all manner of information from travel options to hotel advice, eating and drinking suggestions to practical tips on getting around, along with safety and security advice and anything else we think will be of use to travelling supporters.
In the meantime, while the below might not necessarily have all the information you’ll be after if you’re heading out to Germany, we’re always available to help – just drop us an email if you have any questions.
We’ll do our best to find out what you need to know, either from our own vast experience in covering England and Wales games abroad, or from our friends at Football Supporters Europe.
About the Team
Without doubt, Bayern München are the most successful club in German football, and one of the biggest names in world football. Founded in 1900, Bayern had its first successful period in the 1930s when they won the national championship in 1932. After the 2nd World War, they still remained a strong team but without either great success or being one of the founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963. But once they got promoted, they immediately became Germany’s no. 1.
They’ve won the top flight a record 23 times, the German Pokal a record 16 times, and have won the Champions League 5 times, including in 2013 at Wembley.
About the Stadium
Opened in 2005 and being considered as one of the most modern stadia in Europe, the Allianz-Arena is the home of the two professional Munich football clubs FC Bayern München and their biggest rival TSV 1860 München.
As with most new-built stadia, access is via barcode readers to limit the use of forged tickets. Away fans generally find themselves in the Northern part of the stadium behind the goal in the middle tier (Blocks 242-246) and also in the upper tier (Blocks 340-347) and should enter the ground at the main entrance which is the East entrance (‘Eingang Ost’).
The stadium is named after the Allianz group, a large financial services and insurance provider that bought the rights to name the ground for 30 years. Soon after its construction however, Allianz Arena’s distinctive shape inspired the (particularly among away fans) commonly used nickname, Schlauchboot (“inflatable boat“).
As in some others of the modern stadia in Germany, cash is not accepted other than to buy a ‘Arena Card’. You can choose between different prices €10, €20 and €50. The card is then used to buy beer, food and other merchandise. It speeds up the whole process with less time spent queuing. A refund is given for any money left on the card.
Travelling from the city centre by U-Bahn take the U6 from Marienplatz, Sendlinger Tor or Odeonplatz, in the direction of Garching-Hochbruck to Fröttmaning.
If you start on the S-Bahn, change at Marienplatz and join the U6 as above. You can also use a number 16, 17, 18 or 27 tram and join the U-Bahn at Sendlinger Tor. Trains currently run on the U-Bahn every 20 minutes and both Marienplatz and Frottmaning stations are being extended and redeveloped to accommodate a train arriving at the stadium every two-and-a-half minutes.
Once leaving the U6 at Fröttmaning it is about a 10-minute walk to the stadium.
There is only one way to the ground from the station, which is across a footbridge. If travelling to the stadium from the airport, take the airport shuttle bus towards town and you can then get off at Nordfriedhof to transfer to the U6 and then as above.
A return ticket for public transport from within the MVV ( public transport system for Munich and its suburbs) service area to the ground is included in the match ticket. However, if you are expected to use public transport more often on the day or the days before or after the match, it is recommendable to buy a TagesTicket for the city for about €5 (day ticket), or a 3 Tage Innenraum ticket for the city for around €12,30 (three-day ticket).
About the City
For a full list of attractions visit the city websites at www.muenchen.de or www.newmunich.com.