Black and Red Night under the Cross kicks off 2024

At the start of the official part of the evening, sporting managing director Simon Rolfes thanked everybody for the "great support last year. There has been an incredible sense of euphoria, as we have here tonight, for several months at every game both home and away. Of course, the players are definitely aware of that. They give their all every day for the biggest possible success and the hunger of this team is massive." The former Werkself player added: "Before we get down to business next week, I first hope we all have a great evening. What's been organised here is simply brilliant. The cooperation and the bond between the club and the fans are incredible!"

The Ostermann Arena was decked out in Black and Red for the first fan party since 2008. A raffle with special main prizes such as life-size cut-outs of head coach Xabi Alonso and striker Patrik Schick or shirts signed by the team represented highlights of the evening as did the live performance by the cover band Proms. The party atmosphere continued to build thanks to the Leverkusen DJ Actimax. €3,000 were raised for a good cause on the night including from the raffle and tips donated by the serving staff. The money will be donated to the palliative care and hospice centre in Leverkusen, known as PalliLev.

The Black and Red Night also went down well with the fans. Season card holder Silvia from Leverkusen came with a group of friends and she was reminded of the last fan party in 2008. "I was 15 back then and I came with my family. It's incredible how the club and the fan scene have developed since then. It feels really great at the moment." And Janet, also from Leverkusen and a fan at the stadium since the 1980s, said with great joy: "We’re on the up and up and it's great fun!"

Marcel Lehmann from the Nordkurve12 fan club highlighted the hard work done by everybody involved before the event: "Every single person is fully committed to Bayer 04 and that makes you proud. This evening was a great start to a hopefully successful year!"

"it's turned into something brilliant“

"Over the last few months here in Leverkusen it's turned into something brilliant between the Kurvenrat (home end committee), Nordkurve 12, Bayer 04 and, of course, our fans. This party is one result of that," said Marc Jansen, head of club/memberships at Bayer 04. "We very much welcome and support this idea from the fans that originated in difficult times on the pitch. Being close to the fans is incredibly important to us. That's why we launched several new projects last year – including the district matchdays, the family block and this party today." Andreas ‘Borsten’ Preutenborbeck from the Kurvenrat talked about "great cooperation with NK12 and the club that will benefit everybody in the end."

And honorary captain Stefan Kießling also took the opportunity to be at the Black and Red Night. After the official part of the event, he mingled with the fans and shared his enthusiasm: "It was great fun for me to be able to talk with them about the old days and now in a relaxed atmosphere. The atmosphere is absolutely positive and everybody is really up for the evening and the coming months. You can feel that. It's incredible what the fans and the whole city have got going for a long time."