Munich's newest sports arena has been recognized as one of the world's most beautiful sports venues. The SAP Garden, a multipurpose arena located in the Olympic Park, has been home to the hockey and basketball teams of EHC Red Bull and FC Bayern Munich for the past year. The venue has now been selected by the Prix Versailles for inclusion on its list of the world's most remarkable sports buildings.
The architecture and design award has been presented annually in collaboration with UNESCO since 2015. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization participates in this initiative because it seeks to highlight the role that economic actors across all sectors can play in beautifying and improving living conditions worldwide.
The scope of buildings eligible for the prize has been gradually expanded over the years. Initially, the focus was primarily on museum buildings, with shopping centers added to the competition in 2017. Since 2019, university buildings, train stations, and sports facilities have also been considered for recognition. Airport buildings became eligible for awards starting in 2020.
To qualify for consideration, buildings must demonstrate exceptional architecture, offer innovations, maintain sustainability standards, and integrate well into their surrounding environment. The SAP Garden, which opened in September 2024, was designed by the Danish architecture firm 3XN. The arena was constructed on the site where the velodrome that hosted track cycling competitions during the 1972 Olympic Games once stood, which was demolished to make way for the new facility. The venue is operated by Red Bull Stadion GmbH.
The nomination falls under the category of "World's Most Beautiful Arenas 2025," which includes five other newly constructed venues from China, Japan, France, and the United States. On December 4, during the award ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, it will be determined which of the nominated sports facilities will receive one of the three world prizes.
"The expectations for these recently inaugurated arenas are high," explained Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles. "As they invest in the future, they should promote intergenerational connections, international exchange, and local encounters. Therefore, this infrastructure is increasingly expected not only to integrate seamlessly into the city and region but also to consider the wishes of its population, inspire visitors, and become part of the regional heritage."
The other nominated buildings competing alongside Munich's SAP Garden represent a diverse range of architectural achievements from around the globe. These include the International Football Centre in Xi'an, China; the "Le Colisée" arena in Chartres, France; the Kagawa Prefectural Baseball Complex in Takamatsu City, Japan; the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, USA; and the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, USA. Each of these venues demonstrates the global trend toward creating sports facilities that serve not only as functional spaces for athletic competition but also as architectural landmarks that enhance their communities and inspire future generations.
