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.
With two days to go until the top-of-the-table clash against VfL Wolfsburg in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, bayer04.de looks back over Bayer 04 Women's international exploits. Eleven players were in action with their countries in recent days – with mixed success. Seven of them represented either the Germany U23s or U20s, while one player scored three goals in total.
Show moreThe games continue to come thick and fast for Bayer 04, with the next on Tuesday as Xabi Alonso and his team visit Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the DFB Pokal (kick-off: 8.45pm CET). The Spaniard spoke at his press conference ahead of the match about how to approach the tie, the opposition and two players set to return from injury.
Show moreDelivery fees have now been reintroduced to purchases from the Bayer 04 online shop.
Show moreBayer 04 take on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena for the second time this season, but on this occasion in the DFB Pokal for Tuesday’s round of 16 tie (kick-off: 8.45pm CET). There was no winner in the Bundesliga meeting back in September, but there has to be this time. The Munich club have been in good form of late but are without their top scorer Harry Kane now. Here’s all you need to know about our next opponents.
Show moreThe seventh edition of the ‘Einfach Fußball’ ('Simply Football') Cup once again delighted participants and spectators alike. On Saturday in the Ostermann Arena in Leverkusen, around 200 sports-mad children, young people and adults with disabilities had the opportunity to compete with players from other clubs and to socialise off the pitch. A highlight of the tournament was the visit of two players from the Bayer 04 women's team.
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