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.
In mid-August, the Werkself will set off on a four-day trip to England to play their final two friendly matches of the 2026/27 pre-season against Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. The match in Nottingham against the Tricky Trees is on Wednesday 12 August at 20:45 CEST (19:45 BST) at the City Ground. The game against the Magpies in Newcastle is on Saturday 15 August at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST) at the atmospheric St James’ Park. Details on ticket sales for both matches.
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Following the summer break, most of the players are back in Leverkusen. While two Bayer 04 first-team players are still in action at the World Cup, the players present officially kicked off the new season with fitness assessments. At the Werkstatt, the Bayer 04 rehabilitation and training centre, Robert Andrich, Edmond Tapsoba and the rest of the squad worked up quite a sweat in the sweltering summer heat. New signings Afonso Moreira and Kennet Eichhorn also successfully completed the day’s sessions alongside their new team-mates.
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The Werkself return tomorrow, Tuesday 14 July (from 11:00 CEST at the BayArena; live stream on bayer04.de, the Bayer 04 app and YouTube), with new head coach Carles Martínez leading his first training session as part of the Bayer 04 set-up. His coaching team comprises a mix of new and long-standing colleagues.
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