Champions League chaos: Königplatz devastated after the final!

Champions League chaos: Königplatz devastated after the final!

Munich hosted the Champions League final between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain last Monday, and while fans celebrated, spectators left profound damage in what is considered one of the city's most beautiful squares. The Königsplatz, the traditional venue for large events, was cordoned off for the spectacle and turned into chaos for a few hours. After the final, the place was in one of the worst conditions that Florian Knauß, the director of the State Antiquities Collections and the Glyptothek, has experienced in the last 24 years.

The clean-up work on Monday morning made the extent of the damage clear: dirt and broken glass posed a significant obstacle, meaning that museum visitors and employees only had detours to access their workplaces. Knauß regretted the collateral damage to the listed buildings and reported graffiti left by football fans on the walls of the antique collections. Although he emphasized that museums are not a “stopper of fun,” it is clear that the long-term consequences of such major events on the surrounding area can be very serious. In the future, visitors will be asked to protect and keep the city's cultural treasures clean while celebrating their passion for football.

Sweaty safety preparations

The safety concerns surrounding the final could not be underestimated. The police had classified the event as a high-risk game and therefore mobilized around 2,000 officers to monitor the situation. The Munich police received support from riot police and officers from Italy and France who were familiar with the scene. Even though Königsplatz was an official fan meeting point for PSG supporters, an increased police presence and mobile barriers were planned to prevent emotions from boiling over into violence.

In order to guarantee fans smooth access to the events, the Munich Transport Company (MVG) introduced a changed timetable. From 1 p.m. onwards, the subway journeys were changed to heavy schedules in order to get fans safely to their destinations. The stops at Odeonsplatz and Königsplatz were not accessible during the event, which made getting there even more complicated for many.

A festival of emotions

In addition to the football madness, Munich also celebrated musical highlights. The Champions Festival took place in the Olympic Park, which started on Thursday at 11 a.m. with concerts and activities. For Dua Lipa's fans there were two concerts in the Olympic Hall, one on May 31st and the second on June 1st, while the public viewing on Saturday in the Olympiasee attracted the crowds with free admission.

The interest in such a large event was also noticed by the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, which predicted an increase in overnight stays to around 90,000 and an increase in sales of 30 percent around the finale. It becomes clear that such major events can also bring positive results for the local economy, despite the challenges and difficulties that need to be overcome.

The next highlight, the semi-final of the UEFA Nations League between Germany and Portugal this Tuesday, could represent a renewed challenge for the city, as the final will take place in the stadium on June 8th. Munich is expected to expect many guests and preparations are already in full swing to ensure that things continue to run smoothly.