The Allianz Arena is getting a new hybrid turf. FC Bayern won’t have to cover the costs.
FC Bayern will have a new turf for its next home game—but the NFL is footing the bill. According to information from BILD, the American football league is covering the costs of up to 200,000 euros for replacing the playing surface at the Allianz Arena.
On Sunday, November 15, the Detroit Lions will face the New England Patriots there. After the NFL game, a new hybrid turf is to be installed. It must be ready in time for Bayern’s Bundesliga home game against 1. FC Köln the following Friday.
For the Munich club, this means that, according to the report, the renovation of the field will not place a financial burden on the club. From an organizational standpoint, however, the transition between the two sports remains a challenging task. There are only five days between the NFL game and Bayern’s return to the arena.
New hybrid turf must be ready by the time of the Köln game
The extensive renovations for the NFL game are already underway. While there was a relatively long period of time available for this after Bayern’s last home game against Borussia Dortmund, the work to revert the field to its original state must be completed much more quickly.
Dismantling begins after the final whistle on Sunday. In addition to replacing the turf, the other modifications made for football must also be reversed. These include, among other things, the changes behind the end zones as well as the return of the soccer goals and the stadium’s usual equipment.
Those in charge are relying on their experience with previous NFL games in Munich. Arena Managing Director Jürgen Muth had already expressed confidence in the *Abendzeitung* that the work would be completed within the tight timeframe.
For the team, the most important thing is that, after the international break, they’ll once again find good conditions for their regular Bundesliga schedule. On November 20 at 8:30 p.m., Bayern will host 1. FC Köln. Vincent Kompany could also be back on the sidelines by then, having since returned to Säbener Straße.
By then, the football stadium must be transformed back into a fully operational soccer stadium. The new hybrid turf is a key component of this—and it’s being paid for by the NFL.