FCB Erlebniswelt opens to the public

It features all the trophies Bayern have won, it includes worthy tributes to Franz Beckenbauer and the other defining figures at the club, and it is of course Germany's biggest club museum. But the 3000 m² exhibition at the Allianz Arena, bursting with trophies, images and stories, sets new standards for its lively presentation, interactivity and sheer volume of material.

Quite deliberately, the installation documenting the club’s 112-year history is not called a museum, but rather the FC Bayern Erlebniswelt, literally ‘world of experience’. The doors open for the first time on Friday 25 May. “I have to say: all credit to those involved. This is sensational from A to Z, a milestone, and a gem in the Bayern collection," a thoroughly impressed Uli Hoeneß declared, “it's fantastic. I never imagined it would be like this."

Living history

The club president has visited the museums operated by the likes of Manchester United, Ajax Amsterdam and Barcelona, “but I thought they were all a bit boring," he confided. Bayern's aim was for the Erlebniswelt to be significantly different. “We wanted an impressive retelling of Bayern's history in an entertaining way," explained Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, “we didn't want a boring museum, we wanted a living history of our club."

The result is an audiovisual treat. The project team led by Sabine Hoeneß, Juergen Muth and Peter Renner joined forces with FCB partners Audi, adidas, Samsung and Osram to develop exclusive videos, commentaries and emotive music, immersing visitors in the fascinating history of Germany's biggest club.

The soul of FC Bayern

Giant video screens dot the exhibition space, showing memorable and historic footage including the goals from the 2–0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt which won Bayern their first German championship back in 1932, Katsche Schwarzenbeck’s exceptional long-range drive to earn a replay in the 1974 European Cup final against Atletico Madrid, Patrik Andersson's last-gasp goal to win the title in 2001, and Louis van Gaal’s speech from the town hall balcony in May 2010. An 11 minute cinema-scale movie invites viewers to explore the heart and soul of the club.

The Hall of Fame honours 16 outstanding former players, from Konrad Heidkamp, captain of the 1932 team, via Beckenbauer, Müller and Sepp Maier, through to Oliver Kahn. A display talks visitors through the core values of the club, such as family, tradition, confidence and respect, explained by a range of personalities including Karl Hopfner, Schwarzenbeck, Mehmet Scholl and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Trophies, gifts and curios

The exhibition features a recreation of the famous Säbener Strasse boardroom which provided the setting for vital decisions about transfers and less vital games of cards from 1971 to 2002. Even the somewhat uneven musical history of the club, including songs by players, including Beckenbauer and Alan and Denise’s tribute to Rummenigge’s ‘Sexy Knees’, has been meticulously collected and made available to enjoy.

Visitors are invited to listen, look and experience, and of course pick up plenty of fascinating information. The club's history is documented decade by decade, “and it was intricate detective work," said Rummenigge. The collection boasts more than 2,600 exhibits, of which 424 are currently on display, including the club's founding charter, the gold watch Konrad Heidkamp received as a championship bonus, the receipt for the 4,400 DM paid to sign Gerd Müller, Giovanni Trapattoni's tracksuit, Felix Magath’s lucky tie, the gloves worn by full-back Michael Tarnat when he kept goal against Frankfurt for half an hour in 1999, and Manuel Neuer’s gloves from the shootout in the Champions League semi-final away to Madrid.

A seat on the team bus

The heart of the installation is provided by a glittering display of trophies, including the Bundesliga championship shield, DFB Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Champions League/European Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and the UEFA Cup. There is the added bonus of the Viktoria, the original German championship trophy from 1932. Individual awards won by the likes of Lothar Matthaus, Uli Hoeneß and Gerd Müller are on display, together with a collection of Bayern shirts over the years from 1900 to the present day, models of the club’s various home grounds, and an extensive area devoted to the loyal fans.

Many interactive displays invite visitors to delve deep into the past, test their footballing skill and knowledge, and even take a seat on the team bus. There's so much more besides, so why not discover the FC Bayern Erlebniswelt for yourself? As Hoeneß said, “you're continually surprised by what you find out." Join us in the world's most extensive and exciting exploration of a football club's history and tradition!

FC Bayern Erlebniswelt in facts and figures

Area: 3,050 m²

Construction: 1 June 2011 until 30 April 2012

Partners: Audi AG (presenting partner), Samsung, adidas, Allianz, MAN, Osram

Exhibits on display: 424

Exhibits in collection: 2,606 donated or loaned by 251 individuals (former officials, players, members and fans)

Oldest exhibit: Newsletter and trophy from 1902

Newest exhibits: Philipp Lahm's shirt from the Champions League final against Chelsea; Manuel Neuer's gloves from the Champions League semi-final in Madrid; Mario Gomez’ boots from the record 7–0 victory over Basel.

Exceptional exhibits: Franz Beckenbauer's shirt from the 1974 European Cup final against Atletico Madrid; Lothar Matthaus’ 1991 World Player of the Year trophy; match ball from the 1967 Cup Winners’ Cup final against Rangers; original European Cup trophy; Ottmar Hitzfeld's tactical notes from the 2001 Champions League final against Valencia; original match-worn shirt from 1942; Konrad Heidkamp’s 1932 championship medal; replicas of every major trophy won by the club.

Photographs and images: more than 500

Movie theatre: space for 70 persons, 25 m² screen

Video material: approximately 320 minutes exclusively produced for the Erlebniswelt

Video equipment: 110 monitors, 11 beamers

Audio guide: available in eight languages, plus children's guide in German.

Location: Allianz Arena, Fröttmaning, Munich