It remains to be seen when the Werkself fans will be allowed to support their team on home turf again. But what is certain: Whenever the BayArena is able to welcome back spectators, a number of changes will be evident.
The biggest, visible change will be above the heads of the spectators: The scoreboards in the South and North Stands are to be replaced. The new ones are, at 97 square metres, bigger than the previous models from 2009 (68 square metres) and also guarantee a better picture quality. Also new: The scoreboard in the South Stand will be sited a floor higher on the fourth floor. That will improve visibility for the spectators.
Coming to the BayArena will be even more of a pleasure for disabled fans in the future. The seats for visually impaired fans in Block H will have a wider access with handrails to make it easier to get to the seat, the toilet or snack bar. The so-called ‘Big and Tall’ seats will be further enlarged, fitted with a handrail and have more legroom.
Following the renewal of the flooring in the stairwells in the West Stand, it is now the turn for access points in the East Stand. The new surface is more non-slip and will provide a safer environment in wet weather. And the look fits in perfectly with the Werkself: The stairwells will shine in Black and Red splendour in future. The balustrades in the second and third floors and the doors on the bottom floor will also receive a new coat of paint.
The Werkself players can also look forward to several changes. The first team squad will have a new kitchen on the third floor in close proximity to the ‘Werkstatt’. Chefs Alexander Wagner and Domenik Kulisch will be able to cook for Lars Bender and Co. under ideal conditions.
Training pitches 2 and 3 will also be returfed to provide good and reliable training conditions. All the turf including subsoil will be replaced.
The majority of the planned building works are already in train. The last of the craftspeople will have left the BayArena by the end of August.
With three games to play before the end of the season, the Bayer 04 Women can break one record and equal another at SGS Essen. After three wins on the bounce, coach Roberto Pätzold's team are aiming to maintain the chance of third place in Sunday’s away game (14:00 CEST, Stadion an der Hafenstraße).
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From Ouagadougou to Leverkusen – and back: in March, Bayer 04 travelled with Edmond Tapsoba for a special project in his homeland Burkina Faso. The country where his roots and heart lie. The country where he’s more than a world-class defender: a symbol of hope and a role model for an entire generation. The result is a 45-minute documentary about Tapsoba’s long journey from Africa via Portugal to Leverkusen, which offers extraordinary, one-off and emotional insights.
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Edmond Tapsoba has signed an early extension to his contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With two years left on his current deal, the 27-year-old Burkina Faso international has extended his contract until 30 June 2031. The centre-back joined as a young talent from Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes at the start of 2020.
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A special surprise: during the preview for the 'Fierté Burkinabè' documentary about Edmond Tapsoba, Bayer 04 directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes announced Tapsoba's contract extension until 2031 together with the centre-back. He then spoke to Werkself-TV about his time in Leverkusen so far and future ambitions...
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This evening was deeply moving: At a really special setting, Bayer 04 exclusively presented the specially produced documentary ‘Fierté Burkinabè’ ("Burkinabe Pride") about Edmond Tapsoba on Tuesday. For the preview at the BayArena, the parents of the Werkself player and other close companions travelled all the way from his African homeland Burkina Faso. The 45-minute film shows Tapsoba's extraordinary career from his beginnings in Ouagadougou to Leverkusen as well as the work of his foundation "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba", with representatives from Burkina Faso also present. Fans can watch the documentary free of charge on Werkself TV and YouTube from Wednesday night at 20:00 CEST.
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