Bayern-München!

Before last weekend, I had only been to Munich once on a tour in high school. The only thing I really remember from that quick run-through was watching the Glockenspiel with the crowd.

This time I watched the Glockenspiel, too, but the big event for me was going to the Bayern-München soccer game at Allianz Arena. The game itself wasn't that exciting, but just being there was. I wasn't sure what to expect, because I had seen groups of rowdy fans around Munich that day. For a pro sport game, it was all so civilized. It was more like a tennis or golf crowd. When a good effort was made on either side, the crowd clapped. When something happened that the crowd didn't appreciate (e.g., a foul not being called), the stadium erupted, but not in boos or screams. The crowd WHISTLED very loudly. When Bayern-München scored a goal, the announcer asked the crowd for the score, for which he then thanked them (and they responded in kind):

Announcer: Bayern-München?

Crowd: ZWEI!

A: Leverkusen?

C: NULL!

A: Danke!

C: BITTE! 

Bayern-München and Leverkusen before the game 

It was all so polite--at least, on the Bayern side. I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure I heard "Scheiss auf" in one of the opposing teams' chants. If you go to Allianz Arena, you probably don't want to be in the opposing teams' section; you won't be allowed to take food or drinks to your seats. I don't know why...maybe you will throw it at the FC Bayern fans? I did hear from a reliable source that the men's room in the guest section had been trashed. So, maybe some concern is justified. 

Driving past the Allianz Arena after Bayern-München's win