#Bayer04USATour – Day 3: Sightseeing, baseball and basketball

The media centre at the CITYPARK Stadium was busy with American and Mexican journalists posing numerous questions to Xabi Alonso. The Werkself's Spanish coach and his opposite number from St. Louis CITY SC, John Hackworth, talked about their great excitement ahead of the inaugural match at the CITYPARK Stadium. The coaches' statements are  HERE.

Football, then american Football

Following the press conference, Xabi Alonso led the final pre-match training session at the CITYPARK Stadium. Under the eyes of St. Louis sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel and other officials from St. Louis CITY SC, there was a warm-up routine followed by games in restricted space. Alonso demanded high tempo and lots of shots and challenges.

Shortly after the official end of the session, the football was swapped for an American football and one or the other Werkself players including Karim Bellarabi and Kerem Demirbay were happy to have a go at the American sport as the following photos reveal...

CEO event with Fernando Carro

After the press conference and the pre-match training session, Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, left for a special event: The Spanish director and five other speakers provided interesting contributions at Bayer Crop Science in Clayton, some 20 minutes from St. Louis. In front of 75 invited guests from sport and Bayer in St. Louis, Carro was joined by Jackie Applegate (CEO Crop Science North America). In his 15-minute presentation, Carro reported on the similarities and differences between football and other companies. In the ensuing Q & A session, the Spaniard fielded a host of questions from sports management students on his career and helpful tips for getting into the sports business.

the Arch and the big wheel

A majority of the Bayer 04 group joined a sightseeing tour in the afternoon. The first stop was at the most famous landmark in St. Louis: The Arch. The 192 metre high arch towers over the Mississippi River just a few minutes walk from the team hotel.

Then it was on to the legendary Busch Stadium, home to the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team from the MLB, with a capacity of over 45,000. The Black and Red delegation were taken on a tour through the VIP area, the dressing rooms and then to the edge of the pitch. The guides on the stadium tour presented Fernando Carro with a gift. That moment was captured on film – in front of a gigantic video screen showing a Bayer 04 logo specially for the visitors from Leverkusen.

The third and final stop of the Black and Red sightseeing tour was the newest attraction in the city: The St. Louis Wheel. Fernando Carro and Co. had an excellent view from the top of the skyline of the city and the CITYPARK Stadium. Then it was back to the team hotel.

THe werkself at basketball game

After football and American football in the morning plus baseball on the sightseeing tour in the afternoon, the Bayer 04 group went to watch a college basketball game in the evening. At half-time, the Werkself player Callum Hudson-Odoi was invited onto the court and the Englishman took part in a golf challenge and then presented a Bayer 04 shirt to the Saint Louis Billikens. The 8,000 plus spectators, including Robert Andrich and Co., saw a 90 – 84 home win for the Saint Louis Billikens against the Memphis Tigers.

outlook: matchday in St. Louis

Day 04 of the #Bayer04USATour 2022 features the friendly between Bayer 04 and St. Louis CITY SC. A warm-up session on Wednesday morning will be followed by a rest period for the Werkself. The clash with the future MLS club kicks off at 19.00 local time (02.00 CET, 17 November). The streaming service DAZN will broadcast the match live. After the game, the players, coaching staff and staff members of both clubs will be at a meet & greet session including an evening meal.

Here is all the #Bayer04USATour info