Marisol Beasley

Since its official opening on May 31, 2005, the Allianz Arena is the most popular soccer stadium in Germany.

Without doubt, this stadium is an awesome football venue. It can seat up to 69,000 spectators spread on three terraces configured one over the other. A great feature of this stadium is that its terraces offer direct proximity to the action on the field combining the raw excitement and the usual comforts of a modern football ground.

No wonder Allianz Arena has been selected to host the prestigious 2012 UEFA Champions League Final match.

History - The building of this new temple for football was no cakewalk. From conception to completion, it was a struggle all the way. A great stadium, like any great venture, first needs a vision. Fortunately, the German fans provided the needed spark that helped to get this project going.

They desired a hallmark arena that would bestow a football watching experience like no other. Therefore, German football fans conceived a vision in 1997 to have a new football facility that was the best.

Any huge venture requires money and spending of money requires endorsement.

In September 1997, the administrative board of FC Bayern Mϋnchen, chaired by Minister President Edmund Stoiber voted to build a new stadium by investing around 500 million German marks. However, a conflict had to be resolved. There were scores of people who wanted to restructure the existing Olympic Stadium, while on the other hand; many others wanted a new one altogether.

It was for the people of Munich to decide what they wanted. Finally, they put a referendum to vote. "A new stadium in Frottmaning - yes or no?" Overwhelmingly, on 21 October 2001, the citizens of Munich voted for a new stadium.

This is how the new stadium was born. They decided to construct a spectacular new football stadium at Munich- Frottmaning.

Eight designs were evaluated, but finally it was the joint bid of Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron together with Alpine Bau Deutschland GmbH who got the final yes to design and build the Allianz Arena. Actually, the stadium was originally known as FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich.

Allianz, the large financial service provider, purchased the rights to name the stadium as Allianz Arena for 30 years.

About the stadium - This fascinating football ground, having a capacity of up to 69,000 spectators, has state-of-the-art design. The concept is futuristic and highly innovative.

The stadium has a unique diamond shaped illuminated outer facade made of red, blue and white with more than 25,000 fluorescent tubes providing impressive illumination to the entire sports ground.

The Allianz Arena letters with a length of nearly 40 meters and an absolute height of 5.18 meters are Europe's biggest illuminated promotional lettering.

It took three years to build this unique football ground.

On 31 May 2005, the Allianz Arena finally opened its doors to the public.

More excitement is in store at this state-of-the-art stadium. Thousands will queue up once again in Allianz Arena for the electrifying 2012 UEFA Champions League final.