The Allianz Arena football stadium in the north of Munich (right). The large financial services provider, Allianz purchased the rights to name the stadium for 30 years. During the 2006 World Cup it was known as FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich.

With the city's approval granted on January 16, 2006, the legal capacity of the stadium was increased from 66,000 to 69,901 spectators (including standing room). The lower tier can seat up to 20,000, the middle tier up to 24,000, and the upper tier up to 22,000. 10,400 of the seats in the lower tier corners can be converted to standing room to allow an additional 30,120 spectators.

The total capacity includes 2,000 business seats, 400 seats for the press, 106 luxury boxes with seating for up to 174 and 165 berths for wheelchairs and the like. The partial roof covers all seats, although wind can still blow rain onto some of them. The stadium measures: 258 m x 227 m x 50 m and the playing field: 105 m x 68 m

The arena facade is formed from 2,874 ETFE-foil air panels that are kept inflated with dry air. When viewed from far away, the eye combines the many little white dots painted on the panels and sees a continuous white surface. When viewed close up it is possible to see through the foil. The foil has a thickness of 0.2 mm.

Each panel can be independently lit with white, red, or blue light. The intention is to light the panels at each game with the colors of the respective home team, or white if the home team is the German national football team.

- JOURNEY FROM WEYREGG PART 1 -

Weyregg to Kork (Black Forest)

LINKS to pages in the Journey from Weyregg site and to the Colin Day Travelling Days series: