German Bundesliga football club Bayern Munich has cancelled an agreement with 1860 Munich that permitted the fourth-tier club to play its home games at the Allianz Arena.
1860 was relegated from the second-tier 2.Bundesliga in the 2016-17 season and as a result had been due to play the 2017-18 campaign in the third-tier 3.Liga.
However, the club, which won the top-tier Bundesliga in 1966, failed to make a necessary payment to the German Football Association (DFB) and now finds itself in the fourth-tier Regionalliga Bayern.
The Allianz Arena has served as the home of both Bayern and 1860 since opening in 2005, but the defending Bundesliga champion, which owns the stadium, has opted to terminate its agreement with 1860 following the club’s recent demise.
In a statement, Bayern said the decision was made following discussions between the two clubs.
The statement added: “The cancellation of the contract means the Allianz Arena is no longer TSV 1860 Munich’s home ground. The agreement precludes 1860 returning to the stadium at a later date.”
1860 had initially held an equal share in the stadium but sold its shares to Bayern in 2006. 1860 continued to use the ground as a tenant.
1860 will play the 2017-18 season at the 12,500-capacity Grünwalder Stadium, its home prior to moving to the Allianz Arena.
Back in February, 1860 hired Ian Ayre, former chief executive of English Premier League club Liverpool, to assist the club’s search for a new stadium. In May, Ayre resigned from his post as managing director of 1860 following the club’s relegation.
Image: Richard Bartz
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