New Munich Arena draws stars to Freising and alarms Munich

A 20,000-capacity concert arena planned at Munich Airport could draw major music acts away from Munich, while Freising hopes the project will boost its economy, BR reported on Wednesday.

The first spade was turned on the Munich Arena project, which is scheduled to open in 2029. The privately financed development, including a hotel, is expected to cost 400 million euros. Investor Lorenz Schmid, head of SWMUNICH Real Estate GmbH, calls the concert hall a lifelong ambition and hopes Coldplay or singer Chris Martin will perform at its opening.

Concert promoter Live Nation is a partner in the project. Its managing director, Marek Lieberberg, described the arena as a “project of the century”. Unlike multipurpose venues, the Munich Arena will be designed exclusively for concerts, with no sports field. Its horseshoe-shaped seating is intended to bring the audience closer to the stage, while the design aims to provide clear sightlines and good acoustics. The hall will have no daylight and will avoid hard surfaces such as glass to limit reflections.

Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder praised the project, saying it would strengthen the state’s cultural and events offering and cost taxpayers nothing.

Munich’s Olympiapark, the city’s park and events venue, is concerned about losing concert revenue. Its chief executive, Marion Schöne, said the new arena would be a major competitor and could draw away top touring acts. She warned that the Olympiapark might struggle to pay its lease or make a profit for the city, and said it may not be able to make up the resulting budget shortfall. The venue plans to focus on its location, outdoor events, major sports events and smaller concerts.

Lieberberg said the Munich Olympic Hall would still have a role for events with up to 12,000 visitors, but added that it needed modernising to remain fit for the future.

Freising officials have mixed feelings about the plans. Critics point to land use and the prospect of more road and air traffic, including visitors arriving by plane. Freising Mayor Monika Schwind said she feared the arena could create demand for a third runway, which she said must not happen. She also said the project could bring cultural opportunities and economic benefits to the city.

If Munich wins the right to host the Summer Olympics, the Munich Arena is planned to host the swimming competitions.