The stadium was tense. It had been a night of relentless football, and nobody could take their eyes off the drama unfolding. Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata stepped up to take his team’s first corner of the match. It was the 88th minute of the 2012 Champions League Final, and Chelsea were trailing Bayern Munich in their own backyard, the Allianz Arena.
Mata and his teammates knew time was running out. They had battled all night against a dominant Bayern side and were lucky to be only one goal down. But in football, anything can happen ... and it did. Mata whipped the ball into the box, aiming for one of his teammates. Didier Drogba, Chelsea’s talisman, rose above everyone, twisting every muscle in his neck to direct a powerful header towards goal. The ball flew past Bayern’s keeper Manuel Neuer, rippling the back of the net. Chelsea had done it. They had dragged themselves back from the brink.
Extra time brought even more drama. Bayern missed a penalty that could have sealed the win. And when the game went to a penalty shootout, it was only fitting that Drogba, the night’s hero, stepped up to take the final kick. He buried it, securing Chelsea’s first-ever Champions League title inside Bayern’s own stadium.
This unforgettable final added an instant chapter to the history of the Allianz Arena, a stadium that had only opened seven years earlier in 2005.
A Stadium Built for Football
Before Bayern Munich moved into the Allianz Arena in 2005, they played at the Olympiastadion, a stadium built for the 1972 Olympics. It was massive, but it had an athletics track, which meant fans were far from the action. Bayern wanted a football-specific stadium, something built for the modern game, and the Allianz Arena was the answer.
From the moment it opened, it felt different. The steep stands brought fans closer to the pitch, making the atmosphere intense. It was designed for big nights, big moments, and big matches ... it’s delivered ever since.
The Unique Look
One thing that makes the Allianz Arena stand out? The outside. The stadium is covered in over 2,000 diamond-shaped plastic panels, which can light up in different colours. When Bayern Munich plays, it glows red. For the German national team, it’s white. It even changes for special events, like blue for 1860 Munich back when they shared the ground, or colours of national flags during International games like those in Euro 2020.
These panels are designed to withstand the harsh Bavarian winters, and give the stadium its futuristic look.
Rapid Growth
When it opened, the Allianz Arena held 66,000 fans, but that wasn’t enough. Bayern quickly expanded it, increasing capacity to over 75,000, making it one of the biggest stadiums in Europe.
It’s not just size that makes it special. The stadium’s acoustics amplify the noise, making it one of the loudest and most intimidating places to play. Bayern fans, known for their relentless support, make sure that visiting teams feel the pressure from the first whistle.
Big Games, Big Moments
Since opening, the Allianz Arena has hosted some of football’s biggest matches. It was a key venue in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, including the opening game. It also held Euro 2020 matches and will be a major stadium again in Euro 2024.
Of course, its biggest club moment came in 2012, when Bayern Munich reached the Champions League final on home soil, only to lose to Chelsea in dramatic fashion. But Bayern didn’t have to wait long for redemption. A year later, in 2013, they won the Champions League at Wembley, completing a historic treble.
Tour the Allianz Arena
If you’re in Munich, a tour of the Allianz Arena is a must. You’ll get to walk through the players' tunnel, check out the dressing rooms, and even sit in the dugout, just like Bayern’s stars. The stadium also has a massive club museum, where you can see Bayern’s incredible trophy collection, including their six Champions League titles.
Whether you’re a Bayern Munich fan or just love football, the Allianz Arena is a must-visit stadium, both for its design and for the history it’s already created.
Some fans jokingly refer to the Allianz Arena as the "inflatable boat" stadium because of its unique exterior design.
👉 Find out why it earned that nickname and where it came from.