
There is something special in store for the most loyal of loyal Werkself fans at Saturday’s season launch at the BayArena: The 2,500 season card holders, who watched all the competitive games at the BayArena last term, in a for a special surprise. As a thank you, Bayer 04 are giving those fans a personalised ‘loyalty scarf’ available at a stall on the piazza by the West Stand (next to the police station). CEO Michael Schade, right back Danny da Costa and fan liaison officer Rüdiger Vollborn will call in there at 13.45 CET on Saturday afternoon to join Bayer 04 staff in handing out scarves to the most loyal fans.
“We have identified the 2,500 or so fans who we want to give this gift to reward their loyalty,” explained Meinolf Sprink, fan and community director at Bayer 04. Those Werkself season ticket holders, who were at all of the home games at the BayArena last term but are unable to be at the stadium on Saturday due to holidays or other reasons, will be able to collect their loyalty scarf at the first Bundesliga home game against Hamburg SV on 10 September.
Lots of highlights and attractions
In addition to the sporting highlight of the friendly against Real Sociedad (14.30 CET), the mega autograph session (17.00 CET) or interviews with Michael Schade and Rudi Völler (at half-time in the Sociedad game) or Roger Schmidt (16.20 CET) plus the numerous fun activities on the concourse, there is another good reason to get to the BayArena on Saturday from 12.30 CET: The new Benedictine beer garden will be opened in the north west area of the stadium by E block.
New beer garden worth a visit
In future, the beer garden will be open on home matchdays two hours before kick-off providing fans with a special range of food and drinks. In addition to tasty specialities such as Fleischkäse meatloaf or spit roasts there will refreshing wheat beers on offer from Bayer 04 partner Bitburger. Around 200 seats will be available for people to meet up to discuss the game. And not only before matches but also at half-time and up to two hours after the final whistle. A DJ will also be on hand to spin the discs in the beer and fulfil requests from music lovers where possible.


Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
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There’s lots going on at the BayArena today. The home game against FSV Mainz 05 is all about the numerous Bayer 04 fan clubs, whose birth - the founding of the "1. Fanclub 1976 Leverkusen" - dates back 50 years. A number of fan club representatives will be involved in awards, a banner display and a half-time matchday chat, and the Werkself are set to play in a special white fan club jersey. During half-time, Leverkusen mayor Stefan Hebbel and javelin world champion Steffi Nerius will also talk about the Olympic bid involving Leverkusen. Black and Red fans are advised to get to the stadium in good time today. Matchday news.
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The Werkself host Premier League club Arsenal in the Round of 16 first leg in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. The match at the BayArena is on 10/11 March. Read on for information on ticket sales for this fixture.
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