Allianz Arena Stadium Guide

The Allianz Arena is the home to German giants and Chelsea's Champions League final opponents Bayern Munich. Of course the stadium was announced to host this seasons final before a ball had been kicked this season and it is just coincidence that Bayern happened to reach the final in a year where their home stadium are to host it. No doubt, however, that the awareness of the final being played in their home stadium gave them that extra motivation to reach this stage of the competition and their players and managers will want to win it for their fans, in their home city and in their home stadium.

Imagine Chelsea playing in a Champions League final at Stamford Bridge (or our second home, Wembley)! There would no doubt be an added advantage for the "home" team. They know the dressing rooms, there's no travelling involved, they can train at their normal headquarters and the whole city is behind you. However is there added pressure? Of course any Champions League final comes with bundles of pressure but will there be added amounts on the shoulders of the Bayern players as they walk out of the tunnel, past the trophy and onto the pitch they play on every other week? An added pressure to win for their fans? I think there will be but this could just be balanced out by the advantage they have of a familiar setting.

The Allianz Arena was opened in 2005, one year before the 2006 World Cup where the stadium played host to six games. It has a capacity of 66,000 and cost €340million to make. Just like most stadiums it is situated just outside the city centre in a location called Frottmaning. Catch the U6 line to reach the stadium.

Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich are the occupiers and the stadium can change colour depending on who is playing at home. Bayern are red, 1860 wear blue and so the lights change accordingly. For the final I will imagine half the stadium will be the famous blue of Chelsea and the other half red.

Allianz Arena in the blue of 1860 Munich

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