The Bundesliga is slowly heading towards the half way mark and Bayer 04 are already preparing to play their homes games in the second half of the season in Düsseldorf. Fortuna Düsseldorf and Bayer 04 have presented a joint strategy for the groundshare three months before the Werkself play their first game in the LTU arena.

Friendly reception

While the new roof is being installed at the BayArena, it will not be possible to stage matches here so Bayer 04 will carry on their quest to qualify for Europe in Düsseldorf. “The discussions with Fortuna Düsseldorf, the City Council and the Trade Fair have been held in a friendly and helpful atmosphere. Co-operation is not a foregone conclusion,” reports Bayer 04 managing director Wolfgang Holzhäuser; adding: “I’m sure we’ll feel at home.”

Werkself campaign to run in Düsseldorf too

The DFB Cup Round of Sixteen tie against Energie Cottbus on 28 January will be the start of the Werkself stay in Düsseldorf. A week later sees the first Bayer 04 Bundesliga game of the second half of the season against VfB Stuttgart. The Werkself campaign will also come to the North Rhine Westphalia capital to make as many Düsseldorf citizens aware of the Bayer games as possible.

Posters displaying players and management and snappy slogans will advertise the Bayer 04 home games. “The campaign should raise awareness and show that we are coming to the area. We are investing a six figure sum in this move,” explains Bayer head of communication Meinolf Sprink.

Fortuna Euro introduced

As befits a good guest, Bayer 04 expressed their gratitude for their friendly reception. This is shown in part by the introduction of the ‘Fortune Euro’ included in ticket prices for the Werkself home games in the LTU arena. Each visitor who buys a ticket for the Bundesliga games will contribute one Euro to the third division side. “The same will apply to the season ticket holders. Bayer 04 will make a one-off payment of one Euro for each season ticket to Fortuna. If all goes well we could end up with a six figure sum,” explains Wolfgang Holzhäuser.

Fortuna Düsseldorf will invest the money raised in their youth section. People are delighted with this idea and the shared half a season, declares Fortuna board spokesman Peter Frymuth: “We have held a large number meetings over recent months. We always had the impression that Bayer 04 would be happy to be in Düsseldorf and the LTU arena, although they play in a different division. That was very pleasant.”

Friendly planned

There could be a friendly involving Bayer 04 in Düsseldorf ahead of the first home game in the LTU arena. Considerations in this area depend on agreeing a suitable date with Fortuna and finding an appropriate opponent.