IThere is always something to criticize, of course also with the sale of the Unterhaching sports park to FC Bayern Munich, which is finding a new home for its footballers there. For example, Bayern fans will first have to get used to standing in the north corner in Haching instead of in the south – as in the men’s arena. The following thought game should also be taken seriously: If SpVgg Unterhaching ever plays in the same league as TSV 1860 Munich again, then the sixties will visit a stadium that belongs to Bayern – after which it may need to be renovated again. In addition, there are also a handful of Unterhachinger fans who don’t think it’s good at all that the record champions are now becoming the head of the house or, better yet, the housewife. They fear a loss of identity, so a stick shooting hall will soon give way to the big plans. Otherwise, everyone involved thinks that purchasing the stadium is an absolutely complete deal, with clear advantages for everyone.
This Tuesday, representatives of the municipality of Unterhaching and the Allianz Arena München Stadion GmbH will sign the purchase agreement; last week the local council unanimously approved this turning point in football. FC Bayern will then have three of four stadiums in and around Munich in which higher-class football can be played – in addition to the arena and the sports park, there is also space on its own youth campus. A center for women’s football will be built in Unterhaching, which will probably have significance for the entire country. And the club is still represented with its second men’s team in the municipal Grünwalder Stadium, a circumstance that will become important in this context.
Whoever pays buys, of course. Bayern had an urgent need to expand in women’s football and to act as a pioneer in a booming industry, at least in Germany. But it is anything but a hostile takeover. The community of Unterhaching is happy to finally get rid of the outdated stadium. According to reports, she even reduced the purchase price of 7.56 million euros by a six-figure amount – according to SZ information, not only the much-discussed east stand is to be stabilized because of its cracks, but also the main stand in the medium term. SpVgg Unterhaching is also pleased that a partner with whom they already cooperate on a sporting level is taking over.
Incidentally, the idea for taking over the stadium is said to have emerged from this cooperation, which would make the idea relatively old. The SpVgg, which for a long time has not really known whether it is actually a professional or an amateur club, has lacked the money to buy it for over a decade. Given the enormous renovation backlog, the bare, gray stadium may no longer be entirely suitable for the third division. Now the gaming association will soon receive modernized infrastructure. How much of her soul she loses in return remains to be seen – the details have not yet been determined. So with questions such as the future color of the seat shells, or whether the beer of a Bayern sponsor will be served or not.
The SpVgg will initially keep the business including its rustic beer garden, and probably also the office space above it
However, from discussions with the people involved, the scenario emerges that the change towards a Bayern stadium is taking small steps and will take a long time. The purchase had to be quick for Bayern, especially because the stadium requirements for women are increasing. Therefore, everything necessary is being done first to meet the Champions League and future Bundesliga requirements for women, because the stadium on campus with its capacity of 2,500 spectators would not have been sufficient for this. Among other things, the basement replacement benches will soon be made level. It is also quite possible that a small widening of the field will be necessary and that there will be a few fewer seats available. However, it is not planned for the Bayern women to play all of their games in Unterhaching immediately.
Bayern not only bought the stadium, but also parts of the area around it – for an additional 800,000 euros. From 2029, i.e. around the Women’s European Championship in Germany, a functional building is to be built that will be directly integrated into the renovated north stand. But it also means that the stadium should retain its down-to-earth character: The SpVgg will initially keep the business and its rustic beer garden, and probably also the office space above it. One person involved jokes that in the future there will be a state-of-the-art Bayern grandstand in the north, while the Hachinger fan grandstand in the south could then be called the “Leberkäs-mit-Egg grandstand”. This future stadium image would very well reflect FC Bayern’s ideals: On the one hand state of the art, on the other hand, maintaining customs. After all, the SpVgg, with Hoeneß’s down-to-earth friend Manfred Schwabl as president, should in future ensure that local talent is trained for FC Bayern’s men.
According to SZ information, there are no plans to interrupt game operations at any time. Gradually, all Bayern women’s teams will be based in Unterhaching and will also have the best training conditions. One The team, we hear from circles around the record champions, should under no circumstances move there, namely the second men’s team, which is currently playing in the regional league like Haching. The older fans of the Reds, who grew up with Gerd Müller and Franz Beckenbauer, see the Grünwalder Stadium as their home just like the blue competition.
As is well known, 1860 Munich is currently asking itself very fundamental questions about the stadium. A discussion is currently beginning about a possible lion lease on Giesing’s heights, which would mean the city would completely say goodbye to the football business. But the U23 of the Reds as a tenant at 1860 – that doesn’t seem conceivable. The question of where Bayern’s talents will play in the future will also be fueled by the Bayern women’s move to Unterhaching.
