Around 200 Monheim residents wanted to see first hand what one of the most state-of-the-art performance centres for football players in Europe looks like and is due to be built in their neighbourhood. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, and Simon Rolfes, sporting managing director, not only came to the hall in Monheim with current plans and plenty of background information but also with one request: "We would like to put forward a project that is pioneering for the club but also for the region and to enter into discussions with you at this very early stage – today is the first of many opportunities for that. Your suggestions and ideas are important to us and in terms of what happens here," said Fernando Carro.