The concourse at the BayArena is open to fans three hours before kick-off at 15:00 CEST. The stands are open from 16:30 CEST. For the season opener, shuttle buses operate from 15:00 CEST, and city buses run from 16:00 CEST. An overview can be found HERE. A valid ticket is required for entrance, which is exclusively available via the Bayer 04 app and can only be displayed there.
Fans can spend time enjoying the varied programme of events up to kick-off. Around the stadium there are child friendly activities, creative opportunities to join in and a range of games to provide the best possible entertainment. The youngest Werkself fans can look forward to bouncy castles and face painting for starters. There are also lots of places with stamp cards. Children can collect stamps there and at the end take part in a special prize game.
Another events area is an information stand from Bayer 04 partner Zweirad Prumbaum. Visitors to the stadium who have come to the season opener by bike can have a free bike check-up at Prumbaum. The award ceremony for the city bike event will take place at the stadium at half-time in the friendly.
See below for an overview of events:
Bayer 04 Club members can also look forward to special and exclusive events, which require prior registration. That includes a members dialogue with Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro.
Ahead of the friendly for the team under head coach Erik ten Hag, there will be an autograph session with the Bayer 04 Women's team (16:00 to 17:00 CEST on the west side of the BayArena). Before the game, there will also be roundtable discussion with Women's head coach Roberto Pätzold and Achim Feifel, sporting director of the Bayer 04 Women.
Before the match action, the men's and women's first-team squads will be officially presented on the pitch. After the final whistle, the players will distribute signed balls.
The shirts worn by the Werkself will be auctioned for a good cause following the friendly. Funds raised will go to the green tech company Plastiks who have been a partner of Bayer 04 since November last year. The sustainable organisation from Spain acts worldwide for the recycling of waste and against waste pollution. The match-worn shirts will be auctioned HERE.
Over 18,000 tickets have been sold for the season opener so far. Fans who don't want to miss out on the varied programme of events and the friendly against Pisa SC can secure tickets HERE. Bayer 04 Club members receive a discount of €5.00 leaving to them to pay just €10.00 per ticket. Tickets are exclusively available via the Bayer 04 app and can only be displayed there.
The successor to Sergi Runge as head coach of the Bayer 04 U19 team has been decided. Following the Spaniard's appointment to Kasper Hjulmand's first team coaching staff, the current U17 head coach Kevin Brok (photo) will be responsible for the U19s until the end of the season. As a result, Benjamin Adam will also move up a year and will now coach the U17s instead of the U16s, also until the end of the season. The structure of the coaching and support staff will remain unchanged.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to Mainz 05 on matchday 7 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game at the MEWA ARENA is on Saturday, 18 October, with the kick-off at 15.30 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
Show moreA floodlit thriller and a home win for head coach Kasper Hjulmand in his first game in charge. Bayer 04 beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 at the start of Bundesliga matchday 3. Alejandro Grimaldo scored with a spectacular free-kick and Patrik Schick with a penalty before the break, and after Frankfurt pulled a goal back, Grimaldo crowned a strong Werkself performance in stoppage time - again with a strike from a free-kick.
Show moreFor the first match under head coach Kasper Hjulmand on Friday night, 12 September (kick-off: 20:30 CEST/live on Sky and WOW), the Werkself welcome an Eintracht Frankfurt side in impressive early form. The Eagles counter-attacking and clinical finishing have stood out in their previous wins this term. Important advice for all fans travelling to and from the match by train: There will be cancellations of S-Bahn services to and from Leverkusen Mitte in both directions. The latest information on tonight’s match.
Show more