“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.
In the 3-2 defeat at Bundesliga newcomers SV 07 Elversberg, the Werkself found the back of the net in the closing stages and, with a bit of luck, could still have equalised. “Today, our play wasn’t good enough, particularly when it came to the basics,” said head coach Carles Martínez. Like the boss, Ibrahim Maza also wants to learn from the match and look ahead: “Next week, people should be able to see from the very first minute that we want it more than our opponents.” The Werkself review on the Bundesliga opener in 2026/27.
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No points to start the league campaign: Bayer 04 lost 3-2 away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg in the first Bundesliga match of the 2026/27 campaign. Two quick-fire goals from Lukas Petkov (8’) and Cole Campbell (10’) gave the hosts an early lead, before David Mokwa scored the Saarland side’s third shortly after half-time (46’). In the closing stages, the Werkself rallied and staged a late comeback with goals from Patrik Schick (77’) and Christian Kofane (90+1’), but the Black and Reds were denied an equaliser.
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The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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Following their successful start away to RB Leipzig, the Bayer 04 women’s team are set to play their first home match of the new Bundesliga season on Sunday. The Werkself host VfL Wolfsburg at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 16:00 CEST. Coach Roberto Pätzold is hoping for a courageous performance against the seven-time German champions.
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