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.
Since 2023, Bayer 04 has been organising regular free goalkeeping coach training sessions at the BayArena. As in previous years, the event attracted enormous interest in mid-October 2026. Around 140 participants – mostly goalkeeping coaches from the region, but also team and academy coaches as well as association staff – came to the Werkself stadium to gain expert knowledge on the subject of zonal marking. Through a theoretical keynote presentation and a practical session on the pitch, the participants gained insights into goalkeeping and goalkeeper training at Bayer 04.
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A first for the Werkself: Today, Thursday 15 October (kick-off: 18:45 CEST), Bayer 04 face Lech Poznan for the first time on matchday 2 in the UEFA Europa League group. Although the Black and Reds have a flawless record against the only Polish opposition faced before, they must not underestimate the attacking ability and goal-scoring threat of the reigning champions from Poznan. Lech’s squad also includes two former Bundesliga players. Today's matchday news.
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Some 30 years on since their last European fixture in Poland, Bayer 04 cross the border for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash against Lech Poznan on Matchday 2 of the league phase on Thursday (kick-off: 18:45 CEST). Ahead of a first-ever meeting with Lech, head coach Carles Martínez and winger Nathan Tella spoke in Poznan about special memories and objectives.
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The NB Vintage Collection is here and available now! Members enjoy an exclusive priority purchase period (online shop only). Non-members will then be able to purchase items from Saturday 17 October (10:00 CEST). Sales will also begin at the same time at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt.
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