Greens frown on Munich climate-neutral arena

Article posted by Coliseum, August 4^th, 2022

Image: Populous & SWMUNICH Real Estate GmbH

In earlier days, airports used to be a place where passengers used to check in and check out and spend their time in the waiting room.

In today’s age, visiting an airport is an altogether different experience – one has the airport look, spiffy shops, eateries, and various other offerings in the airport.

‘Süddeutsche Zeitung’ stated that hence, the climate-neutral concert arena planned by SW Munich Real Estate (Germany) sits perfectly well with the plans of the Erdinger Moos Airport (Munich International Airport), as per expert opinion.

Apply for membership

On April 6^th, the Freising City Council in Bavaria, Germany, agreed in principle to give the plans the green light, which will see Bavaria-based SWMUNICH Real Estate GmbH (SWMUNICH) plan, build and operate a world-class multiuse concert and convention center, backed by more than 300 million euros of private sector investment.

‘Süddeutsche Zeitung’ further stated that the Planning Committee of the City Council has now decided by majority vote to initiate the land use planning process for the arena. The three representatives of the Greens (political party in Germany) in the committee and Emilia Kirner from the ÖDP (conservative and ecologist minor party in Germany) voted against it. While Lorenz Schmid, Managing Director of SW Munich Real Estate, was happy about the decision, it drew flak from the action group ‘Koa Kongresshalle’.

The Mayor of Freising, Tobias Eschenbacher, fumed that the Greens would do anything to torpedo the development.

German politician Manfred Drobny had also campaigned against the climate-neutral digs arguing that it went against the interests of the town of Freising. As per Drobny, such an arena traditionally sits well in a big City as “Artistes like to walk in the City and not in an airport”.

He also feared that the arena coming up would also lead to a lot of traffic snarls. His take on the arena was contradicted by a ‘stress test scenario’, according to which even a major event with 20,000 visitors can be handled via the road and transport network.

Schmid termed the decision of the Planning Committee as a milestone on the way to building the climate-neutral concert arena.

Emphasized Schmid, “The concert arena is a project from the region and for the region. We will constructively include all ideas and suggestions while building the concert arena.”

The action alliance ‘Koa Kongresshalle’ regretted the above decision and stated that the concert arena was “oversized which would create much discomfort to the people of the region”.

The action alliance comprising the Bund Naturschutz, the Landesbund für Vogelschutz, Aufgemuckt, and Freisinger and Munich elected representatives, fears more short-haul flights and feeder traffic on the road once the arena opens its doors. Due to the delay in the construction of the second trunk road, the traffic scenario is already becoming a “nightmare”.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.

Watch 250 member-exclusive videos with valuable tips for your venue