Audi 2011 Annual Report Download - page 35

André Weber
“It’s thrilling to
see them really
doing battle out
there on the fi eld.
The games are
awesome!”
“Both as a fan and
a journalist, soccer
is an incredibly
important part of
my life.”
Simona Ventura
32 _ Experience
Luis well in advance of the game.
On purpose. “It all starts with the
pre-game build-up, getting here,
having a snack, seeing the crowd
arrive, feeling the anticipation and the
tension growing by the minute,” says
Christoph. Luis has been infected by
this enthusiasm, holding his father’s
hand so as not to get separated in
the crowd that is gradually gathering.
Almost nine years old and beaming,
he looks up at Dad feeling so grown-
up that he has been brought along.
And he gazes up at the gigantic Allianz
Arena – proud that his fi rst match is at
an event that’s “only for superstars,”
as he puts it.
By the time millions of viewers
have settled down in front of the TV
in time for the 8.15 pm kick-off , the
fans waiting outside the stadium have
become a crowd of 66,000 inside:
guys with girlfriends, men with sons,
women with daughters, families.
Like a rising tide, the crowd swells in
size as kick-off draws closer. Having
arrived by car, bus, train or on foot,
people stream ever faster through the
metal fences, past the marshals, into
the steel and concrete structure, up
the narrow corridors and stairways,
singing as they go. As they are swept
into the stadium, the combination of
letters and numbers on their ticket
directs the fans through the apparent
chaos. Once inside the stadium, the
torrent of people changes into a
wave just 15 minutes after kick-off .
A Mexican wave of joy and delight, its
crest formed by hands raised high in
the air.
“Soccer is an incredibly important
part of my life,” says Simona Ventura,
looking down onto the fi eld from the
seats above the coach’s bench. The
Italian journalist and sports presenter
is a professional when it comes to
talking soccer. But today she is here
to support her team, AC Milan. She
looks at her watch excitedly. Just a
couple of minutes, and her team will
be out there. She hurries to rejoin her
friends. And to take her seat – not
that she will remain seated for long.
After all, whether star or school kid,
tradesman or manager, apprentice or
engineer, all are united in cheering
on their team. And as soon as the
stadium announcer’s voice reaches
the crowd in the remotest corners, the
pulse begins to race.
“Out the way!” call two boys from
behind. There are rules governing not
only what happens on the fi eld –
but also in the stands. For example, it
is not allowed to cheer on the wrong
team from the wrong fan block. Or
stand for too long in the gangway.
People start craning their necks to
see round whoever is blocking the
view, round the person in front,
round Bayern Munich fan André
Weber. Down on the fi eld, Bayern are
currently playing AC Milan. Bayern
are pressing forward toward the man
between the posts. André Weber is
fully concentrated on the game: ball –
player – ball. What’s going to happen
next? Can he sense it? 27 minutes into
the game, the players on the fi eld and
the fans in the stands are pumped
full of adrenalin and tension. A shot –
saved. But then, less than seven
minutes later, the ball is fi nally in
the net. Now André can cheer.
At half-time the fans throng the
dimly lit gangways, in the few meters
of space that separate the arena’s
exterior walls from its beating heart.
Hungry for a snack, hungry to analyze
the game and talk shop, hungry
for the next 45 minutes and more
unforgettable moments. Such as
when they take a few steps out of the
shadows into the stands, and gaze out
at this huge oval of people around the
fi eld, eyes wide open and pupils small.
The crowd’s energy spills over into the
game itself. A cauldron of singing and
chanting that is enough to give even a
soccer-phobe goosebumps.
This ball game delights people
worldwide. From the edge of playing
fi elds in South America to grandstands
in Europe and stadiums in Asia, soccer
creates a sense of community and
transcends boundaries. “It’s amazing
to be at a huge, peaceful party with so
PHOTOS | ANDREAS RENZ/AUDI AG (3); ALEXANDER HASSENSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES/AUDI AG
There are rules gover-
ning not only what
happens on the fi eld –
but also in the stands.