Thu. Nov 21st, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

BAYERN MUNICH’S much-loved former stadium is now covered in graffiti.

More than 50,000 people were once packing the stands in the Grunwalder Stadion before Bayern left in 1972.

The Grunwalder Stadion now hosts Bayern's second team in the fourth tier

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The Grunwalder Stadion now hosts Bayern’s second team in the fourth tierCredit: Alamy
This is an outside view of Bayern Munich's old stadium

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This is an outside view of Bayern Munich’s old stadiumCredit: Alamy
It was once crowded with 50,000 people

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It was once crowded with 50,000 people
But the city council have continued to work on the stadium to keep football being played there

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But the city council have continued to work on the stadium to keep football being played there

But Bayern have kept some connection with the Grunwalder as their second team host 3.Liga games in the German fourth tier there.

It’s record attendance was a massive 58,000 people back in 1961-62, but the capacity has since been reduced to 21,200.

The ground saw many games of the early golden years of Bayern, including two German title triumphs in 1931-32 and 1968-69.

Bayern, led by the great Franz Beckenbauer, left in 1972 and won their first of six European trophies two years later against Atletico Madrid.

It was once Munich’s largest stadium before the Bayern’s current 75,000 seat fortress at the Allianz Arena opened in 2005.

But now the Grunwalder, which was also used for their city rivals 1860 Munich, looks unrecognisable.

After both teams left for the Olympiastadion in 1972, plans were put in place for it to be demolished.

But that decision was postponed as the council decided to redevelop the ground instead.

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It went under a large renovation in the late 1970s, including the construction of two new main stands.

Over the years, the state of the stadium had slowly deteriorated and capacity had been reduced due to safety measures.

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However, the stadium still does not meet standards to play matches in the Bundesliga’s second division.

In 2017, 1860 Munich, nicknamed the Lions, decided to move back into the Grunwalder Stadion.

A Munich sport’s committee voted for a comprehensive renovation in September 2022, with work set to begin in 2026.

The measures will reportedly set the council back £77million.

The Allianz now hosts Bayern's top-flight football

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The Allianz now hosts Bayern’s top-flight footballCredit: Getty
Joshua Zirkzee played his reserve team football at the Grunwalder during his time at Bayern

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Joshua Zirkzee played his reserve team football at the Grunwalder during his time at Bayern
The same old stands remain at the Grunwalder

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The same old stands remain at the Grunwalder
Crowds still gather at the iconic stadium built in 1911

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Crowds still gather at the iconic stadium built in 1911

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