The open payment system at the BayArena in Leverkusen is based on commercially available money cards. This means the card and the funds on it remain with the fan and the balance does not go to an account run by the club. Any spectator can visit the BayArena and use their own bank card (providing it has a payment function) to make payments at the stadium, for example at a Currywurst stand.
In contrast to closed systems, nobody is forced to use a BayArena Card issued by the club. Many away fans use the card to have a souvenir of the visit to our club. Between 50 and 80 per cent of away supporters use cards other than the BayArena Card. This is usually their own bank card. With the open payment system, the balance is irrelevant as it can be used on 420,000 payment points in Germany (e.g. parking meters or in shops). In contrast to closed systems we have no access to the money loaded on the card. The expiry date and number of cards used only have a cost -related impact on Bayer 04 as the cards with payment functions are significantly more expensive to produce. Also cards in closed systems are only valid for four years for regulatory reasons.
This service costs us significant amounts of money each year. This investment is made to offer our fans and visiting supporters a fair system where they can use money left over outside the stadium at countless other payment points. For example, that means our BayArena Card can be used to buy an underground ticket.
This completely excludes the "sleeping Euro" that negatively affects football fans and supposedly brings money into the club's. On the contrary, Bayer 04 Leverkusen stand for an open, fair and service-oriented payment system.
A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
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The Bayer 04 U19s have extended their winning run with a fifth consecutive victory on Matchday 5 of the DFB Youth League’s preliminary round. Coach Patrick Greveraars’ side secured a 3–2 (2–1) win in their match against second-placed FC Viktoria Köln, with Burak Kir and Nebe Domnic scoring for the hosts in the first half before captain Ben Hawighorst found the net after the break.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
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