Saturday, 27. September 2025 |
One year of SAP Garden: Interview with Patrick Hager and Vladimir Lucic
Before the SAP Garden opened, the Red Bulls ice hockey players played their home games in the old Olympic Ice Stadium. For the FC Bayern basketball team, the new arena has become their second home venue alongside BMW Park for the big games in the EuroLeague and the Bundesliga playoffs. What are the biggest differences compared to the other two stadiums?
Patrick Hager: "First of all, of course, everything is bigger here. We've almost doubled our spectator capacity from one day to the next. It wasn't an easy adjustment at first, everything was new and unfamiliar, you first had to get to know the routes and facilities. But now, a year later, everyone really feels at home here. It's a great setup for us that we also have the opportunity to train on three other ice surfaces at other events. At the same time, we have this great cabin, a new lounge, the wellness area and the large fitness studio. We first had to learn to come together here so that not everyone is doing their own thing because there are so many options. We have learned these lessons."
Vladimir Lucic: "It was also challenging for us at the beginning. Before our first game in the SAP Garden, against Real Madrid on October 3, we didn't really have the opportunity to train here. Fortunately, we won the game in the end. It was a historic match, as were several others, because we were able to win many EuroLeague games here. We've also settled in a bit by now. We're happy to have our own dressing room. We also benefit from the gym and the wellness area. You can also feel a completely different atmosphere in the arena. It's much more similar to the NBA stadiums and pushes us when we play here."
Patrick Hager (Red Bull Munich) and Vladimir Lucic (FC Bayern Basketball) in conversation
// INTERVIEW
The gym in particular is a real paradise for athletes. What were your first thoughts when you saw the dimensions?
Lucic: "I was very surprised when I went to train there for the first time. There are 20 or 30 bikes in there, for example. At BMW Park, we have three bikes for a team of 15 players and we rotate. That creates completely new opportunities to train together. It's also good for team building when you do exercises together and talk to each other during them."
Hager: "It's a similar size to the gym at the Red Bull Academy in Salzburg/Liefering. Young ice hockey and soccer players share the facilities there. Two teams can train at the same time, which is also important in Munich since the Rookie Bulls have become so big. It's also great for the youngsters to have the chance to meet us in the morning and see how we professionals train and talk to us."
Lucic: "I've experienced that too. During my injury, I trained a lot in the gym and every now and then your youth players were there too. That's not a problem at all. You still have your peace and quiet and can do everything because it's big enough and well equipped."
What were your favorite moments from your first year at the SAP Garden?
Hager: "I would say the opening game against the Buffalo Sabres NHL team. Standing on the ice for the first time and seeing the sold-out arena was something special. Unfortunately, we didn't get the result you hope for as an athlete, but we will work hard to be able to celebrate more at the SAP Garden this year."
Lucic: "You work all year to finish the season with a title. We managed to do that. You go through the whole summer with a completely different feeling. Everything is more relaxed. But the opening game against Real Madrid was just as historic. I was even lucky enough to grab a rebound and make the first basket for us in the SAP Garden. That's why I would even put the win against Madrid in first place as a memory."
You can watch the full interview with the two captains in the video above.
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