Ten guides form the team leading tours of the BayArena. One of them is Marvin Sonnenberg. At the start of the comeback tour, he explained how he joined a guided tour himself for the first time in 2015 – back then with his host family from the USA. "I invited them specially and I wanted to introduce them to my favourite club. However, we discovered that the tour was only available in German back then. From that moment I knew I wanted to change that."
Since then, the Leverkusen-born guide has led weekly tours himself for the past six years and he has experienced a lot along the way: "I actually had a married couple visit who had flown here specially for three days to watch their fellow countryman Chicharito (2015 to 2017 at Bayer 04,ed.) play, explained the committed Bayer 04 fan.
Only German-speaking visitors registered for the comeback tour. The starting point is one of the most impressive parts of the BayArena: the traditional fan pub, the Schwadbud. Right at the beginning of the tour it is clear there is a lot of history. Then it's up the stairs to the top tier via the North Stand and into the inner part of the arena. Sonnenberg covers the special architectural features, the video screens, goal-line technology and the away section.
The participants also receive an exclusive insight into the VIP and executive boxes area of the arena as well as the press conference room. The highlight of the tour comes at the end: the interior. Here it's a case of touching the pitch, stroking or kissing it but – as is normally the case with stadium tours- not stepping on it. 90 minutes later it's back to the start – with numerous souvenir photos and one or two Black and Red anecdotes.
Anyone wanting to do a BayArena Tour can do it straight away from now. The tours are again being held weekly and the cost is €10. You can book the tour online HERE. Due to the ongoing hygiene regulations it is not possible to visit all the areas of the BayArena. There are no BayArena Tours when the Werkself are at home.
All participants have to produce a 2G passport at the start of the tour. Children and teenagers from 6 to 19, expectant women and fans with medical certificates have to – unless they are vaccinated or recovered – show proof of a negative test (antigen test not older than 24 hours or a PCR test not older than 48 hours). Children up to the age of five do not need proof of vaccination or a negative test for the stadium tour. During the tour, face masks are to be worn at all times in the interior of the stadium. These can be taken off in the outside areas.
With three games to play before the end of the season, the Bayer 04 Women can break one record and equal another at SGS Essen. After three wins on the bounce, coach Roberto Pätzold's team are aiming to maintain the chance of third place in Sunday’s away game (14:00 CEST, Stadion an der Hafenstraße).
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From Ouagadougou to Leverkusen – and back: in March, Bayer 04 travelled with Edmond Tapsoba for a special project in his homeland Burkina Faso. The country where his roots and heart lie. The country where he’s more than a world-class defender: a symbol of hope and a role model for an entire generation. The result is a 45-minute documentary about Tapsoba’s long journey from Africa via Portugal to Leverkusen, which offers extraordinary, one-off and emotional insights.
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Edmond Tapsoba has signed an early extension to his contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With two years left on his current deal, the 27-year-old Burkina Faso international has extended his contract until 30 June 2031. The centre-back joined as a young talent from Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes at the start of 2020.
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A special surprise: during the preview for the 'Fierté Burkinabè' documentary about Edmond Tapsoba, Bayer 04 directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes announced Tapsoba's contract extension until 2031 together with the centre-back. He then spoke to Werkself-TV about his time in Leverkusen so far and future ambitions...
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This evening was deeply moving: At a really special setting, Bayer 04 exclusively presented the specially produced documentary ‘Fierté Burkinabè’ ("Burkinabe Pride") about Edmond Tapsoba on Tuesday. For the preview at the BayArena, the parents of the Werkself player and other close companions travelled all the way from his African homeland Burkina Faso. The 45-minute film shows Tapsoba's extraordinary career from his beginnings in Ouagadougou to Leverkusen as well as the work of his foundation "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba", with representatives from Burkina Faso also present. Fans can watch the documentary free of charge on Werkself TV and YouTube from Wednesday night at 20:00 CEST.
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