Return of fans: Bayer 04 are ready – 300 spectators for Cup tie

Guidelines from the legislator

The number of spectators permitted at sports events in Germany is decided by the relevant local and regional health authorities. The offices responsible for Leverkusen currently refer to the Coronavirus Protection Order that became law in North-Rhine Westphalia on 1 September. According to that, sports events with over 300 spectators are “currently not permitted” advised a spokesperson for the NRW Ministry for Work, Health and Social Affairs.

Consequences for the Cup tie

For the first round tie in the DFB Cup on Sunday, 13 September (kick-off: 15.30 CET), against Eintracht Norderstedt that means: 300 spectators are permitted at the BayArena. After discussions with fan liaison, Bayer 04 have decided that 170 of the tickets available can go to members of the fan groups. 20 of those will go to disabled supporters and their carers. Application for these tickets is not possible for organisational reasons; the supporters in question will be contacted by the club. The actions of the fans will provided valuable insights for Bayer 04 for future games. The remaining tickets will go to family and friends of the first team squad, staff members and partners of the club.

Prospects for the first Bundesliga home game

The 36 professional clubs and the DFL plus various politicians are looking for a single, national solution for the return of spectators to stadiums. A group at the level of heads of state premiers offices are working on a proposal to be presented by the end of October. Accordingly, the assumption must be that the match against RB Leipzig – who have special permission from the City of Leipzig and the Free State of Saxony to play home games with crowds of 8,500 – on Saturday, 26 September, will take place in front of just 300 spectators at the BayArena. The second home game for the Werkself is set for Monday 26 October when FC Augsburg visit Bismarckstraße.

The Bayer 04 plan for matches with spectators

Exactly as with RB Leipzig and the other Bundesliga clubs, Bayer 04 have developed a comprehensive, multilevel hygiene plan including organisational measures that have already been presented to the local health authorities. See the short interview with Fernando Carro, chairman of the board, on the subject. According to that, it would be possible in an ideal case to allow 10,000 spectators to attend Werkself games at the BayArena. The available match tickets would initially be drawn exclusively from season ticket holders who have opted for ‘draw’ version for the 2020/21 season. This also also guarantees the traceability of contacts as required by the legislators. Further information for season ticket holders is available HERE.

Key points of the plan for the BayArena

The plan for matches with spectators at the BayArena is based on the medical-hygiene health and safety of the ‘Sports Medicine/Special Match Operations Task Force’ from the DFL and DFB for the 2020/21 season, which the clubs passed at the DFL general meeting on 3 September. The overriding aim for the BayArena is to ensure a reasonable risk, which, given the development of the pandemic and the significance of football (from a social and political as well as financial perspective), makes matches with crowds possible.

The following key points have been agreed:

• Face coverings have to be worn at the BayArena. That applies, above all, if the minimum social distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained.
• ‘Seating model’: In the stands, spectators will be seated in so-called clusters (to a maximum of six people). This cluster contains season ticket holders who have specified before the draw that they belong to a ‘social grouping’. As a minimum distance of 1.5 metres has to be maintained between clusters, spectators can take off their face coverings at their seats. Through this ‘seating model’ and in connection with the draw from season ticket holders this means the total capacity will vary from game to game. More detailed information will be provided to season tickets holders who have chosen the ‘draw’ option in good time before the first draw. 
• Through the block and sector segregation plus the appropriate routing with distance markings it is possible to ensure that spectators can maintain social distancing everywhere.
• The fully automatic access system including QR codes, sent to winners of the draw via email, plus contactless payment at the BayArena fulfil hygiene regulations.
• All surfaces will be regularly cleaned and disinfected before and during the event.
• Bringing in bags, bigger than A4, is forbidden. Beyond that, Bayer 04 appeal to spectators, to arrive early and regularly use the available sanitisers and washing facilities.

Pandemic activity levels

In comparison to the previous hygiene plan from the Task Force, that was the basis for match operations after the restart, gradations have been introduced for pandemic activity. The arrangement follows the number of new infections per week per 100,000 population in the administrative district and adjoining districts. The thresholds are below those used to assess the general infection scenario in Germany: The ‘high’ pandemic level applies from 35 new infections, the ‘middle’ pandemic level is between five and 35 new infections, the ‘low’ pandemic level is below five new infections – again per week per 100,000 inhabitants.

Supplementary DFL decisions

The following decisions were agreed for match operations with spectators at a DFL general meeting on 4 August. They valid at least until 31 December:

• no away fans
• no standing
• no alcoholic drinks (initially to the end of October 2020)
• obligation to determine the identity and contact data in event of infections relating to the relevant home game to be able to break up infection chains early and effectively.