“We started the project in 2015 and have held it in Cologne five times. There is always great demand and that’s why we start selling tickets for the following year immediately after the event,” explained Ralf Becker from the organisers DuMont LiveKon. “We started taking advance bookings for the event in Leverkusen today. We’ve already sold 2,500 without any real advertising.”
Stefan Kießling, on behalf of the Bayer 04 management, is already looking forward to the singing at his sporting home: “It will be a beautiful, pre-Christmas celebration for all our guests,” said the former striker who often sings Christmas carols with his children. “We’ve got a special playlist for that. And as soon as the festive season arrives, the requests start coming from the back of the car.”
Choir director Michael Kokott can hardly wait for the event either: “In contrast to the title of the event, there are no Rhineland songs on the night but rather classic and international Christmas carols.” The communal pre-Christmas event brings generations together and it provides its own “personal stamp” to a reflective, family atmosphere. This will help to transform the stadium into a cathedral. “The public are the star at this event and they are centre-stage. Every visitor is cordially invited to join in with the singing,” said Kokott.
Song sheets will be provided and the words projected on screens in the stadium. The music group ‘Loss mer Weihnachtsleeder singe’ will be joined by the Bayer AG choir and St. Stephan’s youth choir. Any other choirs interested in taking part are welcome to contact the organisers.
The event on 21 December starts at 19.00 CET, doors open at 17.00 CET. Tickets are available from €5 plus booking fee at www.koelnticket.de.
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.
Show more
Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
Show more
The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
Show more
Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
Show more
The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
Show more
