Editing Allianz Arena (section)

== History ==
[[File:Allianz-Arena-Rang.3.JPG|right|thumb|Seating area of the Allianz Arena]]

On 21 October 2002, voters went to the polls to determine whether a new stadium should be built in this location and whether the city of Munich should provide the necessary infrastructure. About two-thirds of the voters decided in favor of the proposition. An alternative to constructing the new arena had been a major reconstruction of the [[Olympic Stadium, Munich|Olympic Stadium]] but this option had been refused by its architect [[Günther Behnisch]].

Swiss architect firm [[Herzog & de Meuron]] then developed the concept of the stadium with a see-through exterior made of ETFE-foil panels that can be lit from the inside and are self-cleaning. Construction started in late 2002 and was completed by the end of April 2005.

The Fröttmaning and [[Marienplatz]] stations of the subway line U6 were expanded and improved in conjunction with the arena construction. The Fröttmaning subway stations platforms were moved slightly southwards and  expanded from two to four tracks, while the [[Marienplatz]] U-Bahn station was outfitted with additional pedestrian connector tunnels running parallel to the subway tracks, which lead towards the [[S-Bahn]] portion of the station, lessening congestion among passengers making connections to the [[Munich S-Bahn]]. To be able to handle the additional traffic load, the Autobahn A9 was expanded to three and four lanes in each direction and another exit was added to the A99 north of the arena.

On 19 May 2012, the [[2012 UEFA Champions League final]] was held at the Allianz Arena. Bayern Munich, who were drawn as home team, was set to play against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]. Chelsea won on penalties after the game had tied 1–1 after regulation and extra time. [[Bastian Schweinsteiger]]'s penalty hit [[Petr Čech]]'s left post, and [[Didier Drogba]] scored the winning penalty. On 25 May 2012, Bayern opened a museum about its history, FC Bayern Erlebniswelt, inside the Allianz Arena.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbayern.telekom.de/en/news/news/2012/35233.php |title=FCB Erlebniswelt opens to the public}}</ref>

[[File:München, Allianz Arena, innen 2019-11 (3).jpg|thumb|left|The stadium's interior following the so-called "Bayernization" in 2018]]

Following the departure of [[TSV 1860 Munich]] from the stadium due to its relegation to [[3. Liga]] in [[2016–17 2. Bundesliga|2016–17]], Bayern Munich went on to give Allianz Arena a significant facelift a year later, replacing old grey seats with new ones that create a combination of red and white, the colours of the club. The stadium now presents FC Bayern crest on the stand, the "FC Bayern München" writing on one side and the "Mia San Mia" – the club's motto – on the other. Furthermore, several other modifications have also been made, including decorating walls with images of the club's history, bringing a larger quantity of red, and the opening of the FC Bayern store.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/bayern-munich-to-redesign-allianz-arena-in-club-colours-476944.jsp|title=Bayern Munich redesign Allianz Arena in club colours|publisher=bundesliga.com}}</ref>

On 19 September 2024, it was announced that the stadium's address would be changed to "Franz Beckenbauer Platz 5" in honour of the late German football legend [[Franz Beckenbauer]], who was born in Munich and had played with Bayern Munich from 1964 to 1977. The change took effect on 1 May 2025, before [[2025 UEFA Champions League final|that year's Champions League final]] which the stadium hosted. 

=== Stadium corruption affair ===
Between March 2004 and August 2006, a corruption affair relating to the stadium occupied the football world and German courts. On 9 March 2004, Karl-Heinz Wildmoser Sr., president of TSV 1860 Munich, his son Karl-Heinz Wildmoser Jr., chief executive officer of Allianz Arena München Stadion GmbH, and two others were charged with corruption in connection with the award of arena construction contracts and taken into custody.{{cn|date=January 2024}} On 12 March, Wildmoser Sr. struck a plea bargain and was released.{{cn|date=January 2024}} As part of the plea bargain, he relinquished the presidency of the club three days later, and on 18 May, the investigation into his conduct was closed.

His son, Karl-Heinz Wildmoser Jr., remained in custody.{{cn|date=January 2024}} At a bail hearing on 29 June, the judge refused bail on the grounds of danger of flight and obstruction of justice.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The District Attorney filed charges on 23 August 2004, accusing him of fraud, corruption and tax evasion.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The case was that Wildmoser Jr. had awarded the construction contract at an inflated price, provided the Austrian builder Alpine with inside information that enabled the builder to win the contract, and in return received €2.8 million.

On 13 May 2005, Karl-Heinz Wildmoser Jr. was convicted and sentenced by a Munich court to four and a half years in prison.{{cn|date=January 2024}} He was released on bail pending his appeal.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The [[Federal Court of Justice of Germany|Federal Court of Justice]] rejected the appeal in August 2006.

=== Opening day ===
[[File:Allianz-Arena.blue.red.jpg|thumb|Test illumination in March 2005]]

{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 300
 | image1 = Allianz arena at night Richard Bartz.jpg
 | alt1 = Allianz Arena illuminated red
 | image2 = AllianzArenaSunset (cropped).jpg
 | alt2 = Allianz Arena illuminated blue
 | footer = The stadium illuminated in the colours of Bayern Munich (top) and 1860 Munich (bottom)
}}
On 30 May 2005, 1860 Munich played an exhibition game against [[1. FC Nürnberg]] and won, 3–2.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The next day, the record German champions Bayern Munich played a game against the Germany national team.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/31/germany.bayern/|title=Germany 'gift' Bayern opening win|publisher=CNN|language=English|date=31 May 2005|accessdate=19 September 2021}}</ref> Both games had been sold out since early March 2005.{{cn|date=January 2024}} [[Patrick Milchraum]] of TSV 1860 scored the first official goal at the stadium.

On 2 June 2005, in response to high demand, the first "[[Munich derby|arena derby]]" took place between the two tenants.{{cn|date=January 2024}} That game was won by TSV 1860 with the help of a goal by [[Paul Agostino]].

Prior to opening day, the alumni teams of both clubs played each other in an exhibition game in front of a crowd of 30,000.{{cn|date=January 2024}} During the game, all stadium functions were thoroughly tested.

The stadium's first goal in a competitive game went to [[Roy Makaay]] of FC Bayern in the semi-finals of [[2005 DFL-Ligapokal]] on 26 July 2005.{{cn|date=January 2024}} In the same game, [[Thomas Hitzlsperger]] of [[VfB Stuttgart]] scored the first goal in an official game by a visiting team.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The game ended with a 2–1 win for Stuttgart.

The first goal in a league game was scored by [[Owen Hargreaves]] of FC Bayern when the home team won 3–0 in its [[2005–06 Bundesliga]] season opener against [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]] on 5 August 2005.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The first goal in a league game by a visiting team was scored by [[Dynamo Dresden]] on 9 September 2005 in the [[2. Bundesliga]] match against 1860 Munich.{{cn|date=January 2024}} That game ended in a score of 1–2 in front of a full house, which included approximately 20,000 – 22,000 fans who had traveled to Munich from [[Dresden]] for the game. Dresden thus became the first visiting team to win a league game at Allianz Arena.

The first goal against FC Bayern Munich in a league game at Allianz Arena was scored by [[Miroslav Klose]] of [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] on 5 November 2005 in the first minute of play.{{cn|date=January 2024}} This was to remain the visitors' only goal that day, as the game went to the FC Bayern, with a final score of 3–1.

FC Bayern broke its consecutive sell-out record by selling out each of its first ten home games at Allianz Arena.{{when|date=January 2024|reason=season? year?}}

[[File:Allianzarenapano.jpg|thumb|center|1000px|Inside Allianz Arena during a match between Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich, 10 June 2005]]