Best seats in the house for wheelchair users

Allianz Arena's ground-breaking facilities for disabled fans

At the 340 million Euro Allianz Arena, the authorities have made every conceivable effort to anticipate exactly this sort of problem and solve it before it happens. The Munich project is a trailblazer, convincing the authorities and disabled associations alike that the new stadium marks a milestone in the integration of a passionate group of football fans.

"We're in the best seats here," commented Dieter Richthammer of the Rollwagerl 93 Bayern Munich wheelchair users' fan club. "This goes to show what can be done for the disabled. There's never been anything like it." Even before construction began in early 2002, the authorities met disabled groups to agree goals optimising the facility from the disabled fans' point of view. "Disabled groups have been consulted in our planning from the initial phase onwards," remarked Allianz Arena München Stadion GmbH Managing Director Bernd Rauch.

The top row of the lower tier at the 66,000 capacity stadium includes 200 places for wheelchair users and a further contingent for carers. "140 of these are raised by two full steps," confirmed Rollwagerl 93 chairman Peter Czogalla. "If we assume the normal viewing height is 80 cm, then we'll have a viewing height in these seats approaching 1.85 metres, which couldn't be better for us."

The approaches to far too many stadiums pose real difficulties for wheelchair users, but in Munich the goal is to remove all barriers by ensuring all important areas are accessible by ramp. "We've learnt from the mistakes made in other stadiums," notes Czogalla, "making improvements later is much more difficult." Every change in plan was communicated to disabled fans, reports TSV 1860 Munich disabled fans' co-ordinator Ibo Harraz, so that potential issues could be swiftly rectified.

Partially sighted and blind fans also became involved in the project a year ago via Sehhunde, a national fans' organisation. The live experience is often a daunting and almost insurmountable ordeal for this group. "I can't just wander into a stadium packed with 50,000 people and tap my way around the stands with my stick," explains spokeswoman Nina Schweppe.

130 parking spaces for people with disabilities are located on level 3 of garage P1. (Approaching P1 from the public roads is signed) and these parking spaces are closest to the Arena. From this point wheelchair users have unhindered access to their viewing position
With the relevant organisers permission wheelchair users may make use of disabled access to staircases TK 2 and TK 3 (access via S0/S1). Lifts available here for Promenade level 2. Special buses available for the return journey.
People with severe disabilities are transferred to elevators on level 0 (taking them to their seats) by special-purpose vehicles.
Whether a disabled person ID is sufficient and whether people with disabilities can park free of charge has yet to be resolved
There is also an unhindered route from the underground station to the Arena. A shuttle service from the the Fröttmaning underground station to the stadium will not be in place at the start of the season in August 2005. Approximately 400 superior seats have been allocated for about 200 wheelchair users and their companions on the long sides of the Arena on the top rows of the lower tier, allowing room for manoeuvring wheelchairs.
The entire level 2 can also be declared as “barrier-less” for people with disabilities. This level includes kiosks, support services for handicapped people and specially equipped toilets. Specially reserved lifts are available for changing levels in the North and South stands
At the start of the 2005/ 6 Bundesliga season mobile headsets for match commentaries will be tested.