Mario Rojas Toledo

The BayArena at Leverkusen (22,500 seats) will soon reach its capacity limits. In the last few seasons,
nearly all matches were sold out. So, the recent soccer stadium has reached its natural limit and must be
replaced by a larger stadium.

The future: When the national horticultural show takes place in 2005, the central city range of
Leverkusen will be surrounded by an arc-shaped ring of green free spaces. The new stadium (45,200
seats) connects its external areas directly to this newly created park area in order to enable a pedestrian
connection to the Rhine bank.

The architecture of the new multi-functional arena creates a symbol of identity both on the outside and
on the inside.

The shape is derived from the roof structure, which can be opened and closed within 15 minutes. The
football lawn is lowered to a depth of -18.85m. Minor functions are supplied with daylight by generous air
spaces. The roof, consisting of a folding shears construction, remains visible in the middle of a green park
landscape, in the form of an enormous dome.

When the roof is opened, the sunlight can reach the football lawn without restriction in its necessary
quality. Consequently, the lawn, within its phases of growing, is exposed to a sufficient and intense
mound of both air and daylight.

Towards the east, the park rises smoothly to the Bismarck-Road, where the building ends with a new
multi-functional indoor complex for 14,000 spectators. On the grass-planted roof of this convention hall,
the visitor can use the panorama café. A “small stadium” and training area are situated between the
conventional hall and main stadium. Skylights provide the light-source for the new practice halls, offices,
and fan-shops. A bridge connects the convention hall with the conventional hotel tower, which forms a
significant termination of the new sports stadium at Leverkusen.

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