Olympiastadion

Lore & Background

During the Olympics, the stadium's official capacity was 80,000; however, only 70,824 tickets—including unsaleable ones—were available for events such as the opening and closing ceremonies. Official records show that average daily attendance for track and field competitions did not reach 80,000 to 90,000. The stadium has hosted many major football matches including the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final and the UEFA Euro 1988 Final—due to up to 5,000 additional short-term stands, the football World Cup Final in 1974 was attended by 75,200 spectators. The stadium also hosted European Cup Finals in 1979, 1993 and 1997. Its current capacity is 63,118 seated spectators. The stadium has also hosted various concerts, with capacity up to 77,337 depending on configuration. Until the construction of Allianz Arena for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was home to Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich. Football is still played at this venue, which is usually used for the Landesliga Bayern-Südost club Türkgücü Munich. Unlike the Olympiastadion, the new stadium was purpose-built for football alone. The Olympiastadion continued to be Munich's main athletics stadium.

In Their Own Story

Rain tapped rhythmically against the translucent cables of the canopy, diffusing the floodlights into a soft glow over the pitch. Inside the bowl, the air smelled of damp concrete and cut grass—a stark contrast to the enclosed pressure cooker of modern stadiums. From the Nordkurve, the view was framed by steel towers that seemed to hold up the sky itself. For thirty years, this floating roof sheltered Bayern’s ascent, turning every matchday into a spectacle where architecture and ambition merged under the grey Munich weather.

Reader's Guide

Designed by the German architect Günther Behnisch and the engineer Frei Otto, with the assistance of John Argyris, the lightweight tent construction of the Olympiastadion was considered revolutionary for its time. This included large sweeping canopies of acrylic glass stabilized by steel cables that were used for the first time on a large scale. The idea was to imitate the Alps skyline and to set a counterpoint to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, held during the Nazi regime. The sweeping and transparent canopy was designed to symbolize the new, democratic and optimistic West Germany. This concept was reflected in the official motto: 'The cheerful Games' ('Die Heiteren Spiele').

Did You Know?

• The stadium was built as the main venue for the 1972 Summer Olympics.
• The official capacity for the 1972 Olympics was 80,000, with 70,824 tickets available for events.
• The 1974 FIFA World Cup Final was attended by 75,200 spectators due to up to 5,000 additional short-term stands.
• The stadium hosted European Cup Finals in 1979, 1993, and 1997.
• Until the construction of Allianz Arena for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was home to Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich.