Note on the home fan area!
Note on the home fan area! It is forbidden for visiting fans to stay or linger in the home fan area marked on the stadium map. The security and stewarding service is entitled to expel spectators who are visually recognizable as fans of the visiting team or whose behaviour reveals them to be fans of the visiting team from the stadium or to deny them access to the stadium, even if they have a valid ticket for the home fan area.General Ticketing Terms and Conditions of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH (version dated: 1 July 2018)
1. Scope / Contracting parties / Stadium rules / Contract / Away tickets
1.1. These General Ticketing Terms and Conditions apply to the purchase of entrance tickets, especially day and/or season tickets (“tickets”) from VfL Wolfsburg Fußball GmbH (“VfL Wolfsburg”) for events (especially home games of the licensed VfL Wolfsburg Bundesliga football team) at the VOLKSWAGEN ARENA (“stadium”), which are at least co-organised by VfL Wolfsburg, and to the use of tickets and attendance at the stadium. The General Ticketing Terms and Conditions also apply to tickets for other events at the stadium, to the extent that such events are not governed by separate terms and conditions. With the purchase of a ticket, the contracting party enters into an event contract with VfL Wolfsburg and acquires the right(s) to attend the event(s) described on the respective ticket(s). The General Ticketing Terms and Conditions also apply to the purchase of tickets from authorised ticketing agencies.
1.2. The stadium rules of the VOLKSWAGEN ARENA form part of these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions. Although the contract comes about at an earlier time, visitors to the event accept the General Ticketing Terms and Conditions and the stadium rules, which are displayed at the entrance to the stadium and can be viewed at the ticket desks, at the latest when they present their tickets at the stadium entrance.
1.3. These General Ticketing Terms and Conditions also apply accordingly to the legal relationship established by the purchase and/or use of tickets for entrance to stadiums for away games of VfL Wolfsburg (“away tickets”) if the away tickets are purchased from VfL Wolfsburg. Further rules or terms and conditions may apply, especially the stadium rules or terms and conditions of the home club, at the latest when ticket holders enter the stadium for away games. If these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions should conflict with the rules of the home club, these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions take precedence as far as the contract between the customer and VfL Wolfsburg is concerned.
2. VfL card
2.1. The VfL card is a modern, multifunctional ticket. With an appropriate credit balance it can be used as a means of payment, a membership card and/or as a season ticket.
2.2. Used as a season ticket, the VfL card has a QR code via which the services booked and paid for by the contracting party, especially the right to enter the stadium, can be stored in encrypted form. When the contracting party is in possession of the season ticket there is therefore no need to send paper or electronic tickets. Entrance rights can only be activated for the holder of the season ticket. VfL Wolfsburg is only obliged to grant the contracting party, who is also the holder of the season ticket, access to the stadium when the booked and paid services have been activated. The imprint of an access right alone, without activation, explicitly does not grant the right to access the stadium. This does not affect further rules as defined in number 8.
2.3. With a chip and antenna, the VfL card can be used as a payment card. The payment technology used for the VfL card is known as GeldKarte and is recognised by the German banking industry. It enables the card holder to make cashless payments at the GeldKarte terminals in the VOLKSWAGEN ARENA and in the retail and service areas, and with the additional “girogo” function also enables contactless payments, i.e. without the need to insert the card into a terminal. Card holders can top up their VfL cards at the top-up terminals with the GeldKarte and/or girogo logo using cash or an EC/credit card. The minimum amount is €5 and the maximum is €200. The VfL card is topped up in amounts of at least €5. Season tickets and membership cards can be topped up via the online payment shop at www.vfl-wolfsburg.de. The cards are then topped up automatically when they are held against the reader at the kiosk cash desk or at the top-up station in the VOLKSWAGEN ARENA. A maximum of €2,500 may be credited to the VfL card’s GeldKarte chip within 12 months. The period begins when the VfL card is issued to the user and ends when it is returned to VfL Wolfsburg. Top-ups in excess of the maximum mentioned above are not permitted within this period. Amounts on the card that the holder no longer wishes to use can be refunded by VfL Wolfsburg. Partial amounts cannot be refunded. No PIN is required for payments with the GeldKarte girogo. Every time a payment is made, the amount stored on the GeldKarte is reduced accordingly.
2.4. The VfL card for use as a payment method, but not as a season ticket or membership card, can be obtained from the VfL FanWelt fan shop, the Service Centre or any of the designated sales points in the VOLKSWAGEN ARENA. A deposit of €10 is payable, which is refunded when the card is returned. Ownership of the VfL card does not pass to the user. The user is only entitled to dispose of the credit balance on the card.
2.5. The VfL card can be used for payment at acceptance points from the time of purchase until the expiry date printed on the card.
2.6. Once the VfL card has expired, the card holder may obtain from VfL Wolfsburg the refund of any credit balance on the card and the deposit within a period of three years. This period begins at the end of the calendar year in which the VfL card expires. Refunds and reimbursements are no longer possible after the period ends. Refunds and reimbursements are also not possible if the chip has been damaged for reasons for which the card issuer is not responsible. This does not apply if the card holder otherwise demonstrates the existence of a credit balance.
2.7. The card holder bears the risk of the loss or misuse of the VfL card. If the VfL card is lost, the amount on the GeldKarte chip will not be refunded.
3. Prices / Payment terms / Payment by instalments in exceptional cases / Delayed payment
3.1. The ticket price payable for attendance at an event can be found in the current VfL Wolfsburg price list. In addition to this price, VfL Wolfsburg charges the contracting party a reasonable service fee (e.g. for printing and postage) for sending the ticket by post. Tickets purchased in advance may be subject to an advance booking fee. All fees and charges are shown during the order process and are payable when the contract comes about.
3.2. Depending on the way the ticket is purchased, it can be paid for by cash, EC card, SEPA direct debit, credit card, PayPal or invoice. For each order we reserve the right not to offer certain payment methods and to refer customers to alternative methods. Payments against invoice must be made no later than 10 days following receipt of the invoice or the last working day before the event, whichever is earlier. Payments must be received by VfL Wolfsburg by the due date.
3.3. In exceptional cases explicitly defined by VfL Wolfsburg, payment may be made in instalments. Offers including the terms and dates of the instalments will be made to the contracting party in good time, if applicable. An agreement to pay in instalments can be cancelled within 14 days. If it is cancelled effectively, the event contract is unwound in accordance with number 6.1. VfL Wolfsburg is entitled to terminate the agreement to pay by instalments if the contracting party is in arrears with the payment of all or part (but at least 10%) of at least two successive instalments and/or has unsuccessfully been set a deadline of 14 days for the payment of the outstanding amount, with the warning that if payment is not made within the deadline, the entire outstanding debt is due and payable. VfL Wolfsburg reserves the right to terminate the event contract if the entire outstanding debt is not paid within the given deadline. For season tickets, the amounts paid up to this point are credited at day ticket rates and the season ticket is blocked after attendance at the corresponding matches.
3.4. If the contracting party is in arrears with payment of the fee in number 3.1, a reminder charge of €10 is payable in addition to this fee. The contracting party may provide evidence that this charge was not incurred or not for this amount. This does not affect the right to claim for further damages (cancellation, refund fee, etc.).
3.5. VfL Wolfsburg is entitled to refuse the contracting party entrance to the stadium and to block the ticket until payment has been received in full. The contracting party can have the block lifted by paying the purchase price and the fee mentioned in number 3.4 in cash before the event begins, unless VfL Wolfsburg has exercised its cancellation right pursuant to number 3.6.
3.6. In the event of delayed payment, VfL Wolfsburg is also entitled to cancel the event contract without further warning in order to resell the booked seats to others.
4. Contract / Order process / Reference to these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions / Contractual penalty for misuse of print@home tickets / Contractual penalty for exceeding the maximum order amount
4.1. The contracting party makes an offer by placing an order. The offer is accepted when VfL Wolfsburg confirms the order, but not later than when the contracting party receives the tickets. Acceptance is not binding and is in particular subject to any stadium ban and a credit assessment. Orders cannot be changed subsequently, unless they are not accepted within 14 days. This does not affect the right to cancel the event contract pursuant to number 6.1.
4.2. If the ticket holder has not received the ticket under a contract with VfL Wolfsburg, e.g. because it was purchased from the guest club, a contract with VfL Wolfsburg comes about at the latest when the ticket is presented at the stadium entrance, in particular when it is inserted in the ticket reader.
4.3. Contracting parties can order day tickets or season tickets as follows:
4.3.1. Online via the website www.vfl-wolfsburg.de
a) By post: the tickets are sent to the contracting party by post in accordance with number 5.
b) By print@home (not for season tickets): the tickets are sent electronically to the contracting party for them to print directly at home. The contracting party may only print one copy of the ticket ordered; they are not entitled to reproduce, copy or alter the printed ticket in any way. Any breach of the restrictions mentioned in the preceding sentence entitles VfL Wolfsburg to impose a contractual penalty on the contracting party, not exceeding the amount of €1,000 per breach, at its reasonable discretion. A print@home ticket that has been reproduced, copied or altered does not entitle the bearer to attend the match. At the event venue the single-use barcode on the ticket is cancelled electronically by the barcode scanner. If the barcode on the ticket or a copy is presented again, VfL Wolfsburg reserves the right to refuse entrance to the holder of the copy and the holder of the unlawfully copied print@home ticket without compensation or to expel them from the stadium.
VfL Wolfsburg is not obliged to verify that the person presenting the print@home ticket is the same as the contracting party or to verify the authenticity of the print@home ticket. The printed print@home ticket must be kept safely until the event and in particular must not show any damage, soiling or other impairment in the area of the barcode which would hinder the admittance check. If there is any damage, soiling or other impairment which hinders the admittance check, the holder is not entitled to enter the event or to the reimbursement of the purchase price. In this case the contracting party may request the issue of a replacement ticket against payment of a service fee of €5.
4.3.2. For telephone orders, tickets may be paid for by direct debit or credit card (does not apply to season tickets) if the card number, expiry date and security code are provided. For telephone orders, the contracting party has the possibility of inspecting these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions beforehand at the advance booking desks and/or at www.vfl-wolfsburg.de. In addition, these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions will be sent without delay along with the ordered tickets when the contract comes about. For a contract by telephone, it is absolutely necessary that the contracting party declares their acceptance of these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions while placing their order, although the General Ticketing Terms and Conditions are not sent before the contract comes about. This is explicitly pointed out to the contract partner before the order is placed. The tickets are sent to the contracting party by post in accordance with number 5.
4.3.3. On-site purchase: tickets can be bought on site at the ticket centre in Wolfsburg, at the city fan shop and from the fan liaison officer at VfL Wolfsburg during the opening hours as displayed. Payment is always in advance (cash, credit card or EC card); payment for season tickets is only possible by direct debit.
4.4. VfL Wolfsburg reserves the right to determine at its discretion and, if necessary, to limit the number of tickets available for sale in total and to individual buyers for a given event. If the contracting party should order more tickets than allowed for the given match – also by placing more than one order – VfL Wolfsburg reserves the right to cancel the contract and/or to demand a contractual penalty from the contracting party, set at its due discretion, but not higher than €1,000 per breach. Number 8.7 applies accordingly to the cancellation of the contract by VfL Wolfsburg.
5. Postal delivery of tickets / Transfer of risk / Missing or wrong tickets sent electronically or by post
5.1. If the contracting party is a business within the meaning of section 14 of the German Civil Code (BGB), the tickets are sent by post at the expense and risk of the contracting party. The contracting party bears the risk of loss or damage to the tickets in the course of delivery, unless VfL Wolfsburg or its agents are guilty of gross negligence or intent. However, if the contracting party is a consumer within the meaning of section 13 of the BGB, VfL Wolfsburg is liable for the delivery of the tickets. The choice of transport company is made by VfL Wolfsburg.
5.2. The contracting party is obliged to verify without delay on receipt that the order confirmations and tickets are correct, especially in terms of the time and title of the event, number and price. If the contracting party receives no tickets or not those ordered, VfL Wolfsburg must be notified in writing or by email without delay (and no later than within three working days) following receipt or – if no tickets were received – at least one day before the match. If the complaint is justified, the contracting party is entitled to cancel the contract if the complaint was received in good time and VfL Wolfsburg does not rectify the situation (particularly by sending a replacement ticket free of charge). The complaint must be received by VfL Wolfsburg within the deadline for the cancellation right to apply. To the extent that the tickets were sent by post, notice of cancellation must be given in writing along with the returned tickets; otherwise the notice of cancellation may be given by phone or email. There is no right to cancel the contract or to replacement tickets after the deadline for complaints has expired.
6. Cancellation right / Cancellation of subscription / Loss of ticket / Season ticket swap site
6.1. Even if the contracting party purchases the tickets using telecommunications means (e.g. by phone, online or email) within the meaning of section 312c para. 2 of the BGB and so may be party to a distance selling contract in accordance with section 312c para. 1 of the BGB, section 312g para. 2 no. 9 of the BGB stipulates that the two-week cancellation and return period does not apply.
VfL Wolfsburg nonetheless grants the contracting party the right to cancel the respective contract within 14 days of buying the ticket (but not later than 5 days before the event for day tickets). The deadline begins on the day of purchase or receipt by the contracting party if the tickets are sent by post. If tickets were delivered, notice of cancellation must be given in writing (for events by VfL Wolfsburg: VfL Wolfsburg, Service Centre, In den Allerwiesen 1, 38446 Wolfsburg, Germany) along with the returned tickets; if no tickets were delivered, notice of cancellation may also be given by phone or email. The notice of cancellation must be received by VfL Wolfsburg within the deadline. The contracting party will be reimbursed for the price printed on the ticket, less a cancellation fee. The cancellation fee is €4 per ticket, but not less than €10 per cancellation process.
6.2. Season tickets are always purchased by subscription, regardless of the time of purchase. The subscription is renewed from one season to the next unless it is terminated in good time. Deadlines for termination can be found in the subscription agreement. Notice of termination must be sent in written form (email is sufficient) to service@vfl-wolfsburg.de or in writing to VfL Wolfsburg, Service Centre, In den Allerwiesen 1, 38446 Wolfsburg, Germany.
6.3. Notwithstanding the rules in number 6.2, each contracting party is entitled to terminate the season ticket contract without notice in written form (email is sufficient) or in writing for cause. Cause for VfL Wolfsburg particularly applies if VfL Wolfsburg is entitled to impose one of the legal consequences described in numbers 8.4 and 10 in accordance with these provisions. The imposition of a stadium ban is therefore a cause for termination without notice.
6.4. Replacement tickets will only be issued for a service fee in case of loss or theft if the contracting party reports the loss to VfL Wolfsburg at least one day before the respective event and VfL Wolfsburg can cancel the ticket.
6.5. The service fee is €5 for single tickets and €20 for season tickets. Defective season tickets can be replaced without charge on presentation.
6.6. Before a replacement ticket is issued, the visitor must state the reason for the replacement ticket and present a valid identity document. If a season ticket is cancelled in accordance with number 6.1, the pro rata amount is refunded for the events after the cancellation, less the rebate included in the season ticket for events that have already taken place and less the cancellation fee.
6.7. Season ticket holders can offer their season ticket seat at home games approved by VfL Wolfsburg for sale via the VfL swap site. To do so they must register with the VfL online portal at https://tickets.vfl-wolfsburg.de. Sale and delivery of a new ticket for this seat is carried out completely via VfL Wolfsburg. A separate event contract pursuant to number 1 of these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions comes about with the purchaser.
If the season ticket seat is resold, the season ticket is blocked for access to the specific match. The season ticket holder receives a payment equivalent to the monetary value of the ticket for the specific match (the calculation is based on the season ticket price for the respective season, divided by the number of Bundesliga home games).
7. Relocation, cancellation and abandonment of an event
7.1. If the time or place of an event are altered, especially if the date of a match has not yet been finally set by the Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH (DFL) when the contract comes about, or is rescheduled by DFL because circumstances have changed, there is no right to a refund of the ticket price. The same applies if an event is abandoned, to the extent that it is repeated at a later date. In these cases the tickets remain valid for the rescheduled event.
7.2. If an ongoing event is abandoned and not repeated, there is no right to a refund of the ticket price. This does not apply if VfL Wolfsburg is responsible (cf. number 12) for the abandonment.
7.3. If an event is cancelled without a repeat date, the contracting party is refunded the ticket price on return of the original ticket. Service fees are not refunded.
7.4. There is no right to a refund of the ticket price if the contracting party is subject to a stadium ban before or after purchasing the ticket.
8. Right to attend the event / Assignment of the event contract / Name on ticket / Release of VfL Wolfsburg after performance to the ticket holder / Acknowledgement of General Ticketing Terms and Conditions by presentation of ticket / Consequences of breaches/contractual penalty
8.1. As a rule, only the contracting party acquires the right to attend the event (attendance right) by purchasing the ticket and paying the price in full in accordance with number 3.1. Evidence that the ticket holder is also the party contracting with VfL Wolfsburg and so has acquired the attendance right is provided by presenting the ticket, and – at the request of VfL Wolfsburg – a photo ID card. VfL Wolfsburg reserves the right to refuse entrance to the event, particularly by blocking the ticket, to ticket holders who have not acquired an attendance right. If VfL Wolfsburg allows the ticket holder to enter, it is released from its performance obligation towards the contracting party if the ticket holder is not identical to the contracting party with the right to attend the event. Only one person is entitled to attend the event for each attendance right/ticket.
8.2. The attendance right only exists on the basis of the event contract that the visitor has with VfL Wolfsburg or which it has been assigned subject to the conditions of number 8.3. A further condition for entrance to the event is that the ticket holder presents the ticket with their name on the front. If in the event of an authorised assignment of the event contract and the ensuing transfer of the ticket, a name has already been entered, it must be crossed out and the name of the assignee written in the empty space on the front, without writing over the barcode.
When the ticket is presented (especially by inserting the ticket into the access control gates at the stadium entrances), the ticket holder confirms their right to attend the event in accordance with sentence 1 and the application of these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions.
8.3. The contracting party may only assign the rights and obligations under the event contract (and so the attendance right) to a third party when the third party assumes all the former’s rights and obligations under the event contract. This assignment requires the approval of VfL Wolfsburg, which is hereby granted in advance, subject to the restrictions mentioned in number 8.4 below. Individual rights, especially the attendance right, may not be transferred from the event contract unless the third party simultaneously assumes all the rights and obligations under the event contract with the approval of VfL Wolfsburg. If a party contracting with VfL Wolfsburg has lawfully acquired several attendance rights in the course of an event contract and lawfully assigns these attendance rights to several third parties, separate event contracts come about with the assignees when they enter the event.
8.4. To avoid violence and criminal offences in connection with the stadium visit, to enforce stadium bans, to prevent the resale of tickets at excessive prices, to separate fans of the opposing teams and in the interests of spectator safety, VfL Wolfsburg does not approve the assignment of an event contract to a third party in accordance with number
8.3 in the following cases:
- sale of an attendance right or ticket, if the resale price offered or received for the attendance right/ticket exceeds the price payable to VfL Wolfsburg according to number 3.1, plus a lump sum of €2, by more than 10%; this particularly applies in the event of a private transfer;
- sale of an attendance right or ticket as part of an auction not authorised by VfL Wolfsburg (especially on the internet or intranet) by the ticket holder or a third party;
- sale of an attendance right or ticket via an online market place or online ticket exchange not authorised by VfL Wolfsburg by the ticket holder or a third party (especially classified advertising portals, ticket exchanges or auction sites such as eBay, viagogo, seatwave, StubHub, etc.);
- trade or commercial sale of an attendance right or ticket without the explicit prior written approval of VfL Wolfsburg;
- intentional sale of an attendance right or ticket to individuals banned from attending football matches for security reasons;
- sale of an attendance right or ticket for advertising or marketing purposes, as a bonus, advertising gift, prize or as part of an unauthorised hospitality or travel package or
- sale of an attendance right or ticket without explicit reference to these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions, especially this number.
8.5. The transfer or offer of attendance rights or tickets in breach of the cases mentioned in number 8.4 is prohibited. By entering into or being assigned the event contract, the contracting party undertakes to comply with this prohibition.
By presenting the ticket at the stadium entrance, the ticket holder confirms their right to attend the event and that they have not received the ticket as part of a transaction mentioned in number 8.4.
8.6. For every breach of the prohibition mentioned in number 8.5 sentence 1, the contracting party is obliged to pay VfL Wolfsburg a contractual penalty set at the discretion of VfL Wolfsburg, but which may not exceed €2,500. The number of breaches is determined by the number of attendance rights or tickets offered in breach of the prohibition.
8.7. In the event of a breach of the prohibition under number 8.5 sentence 1 or a false representation pursuant to number 8.5 sentence 2 or 3, VfL Wolfsburg is entitled a) to cancel the event contract and/or b) to block the tickets and refuse the ticket holder entrance to the event. To the extent that the contracting party is entitled to a refund because of the cancellation or block, VfL Wolfsburg is obliged to take this into account when setting the amount of the contractual penalty. The cancellation right under sentence 1 also extends to other event contracts between the contracting party and VfL Wolfsburg.
8.8. Notwithstanding its freedom to contract, in the event of a breach of the prohibition under number 8.5 sentence 1, VfL Wolfsburg also reserves the right to exclude the respective contracting party from the purchase of tickets in future.
8.9. Numbers 8.1 to 8.8 also apply to season tickets and their use by third parties for one or more events. In case of an assignment pursuant to number 8.3, the third party becomes a party to the event contract for the events for which the season ticket holder has assigned the season ticket. In the case of an authorised transfer as part of an assignment to a third party in accordance with number 8.4, clause 1, the permitted premium for season tickets is calculated as one seventeenth of the total price for the season ticket in accordance with number 3.1.
8.10. If the ticket is transferred, the contracting party is obliged at the request of VfL Wolfsburg to give VfL Wolfsburg the name and address of the assignee, to the extent permitted by data protection law.
9. Reduced tickets
Reduced tickets only entitle the holder to attend the event if the contracting party is entitled to the reduction and can provide appropriate evidence or the difference is paid between the reduced and normal ticket price, plus the service fee in accordance with number 6.5.
10. Contractual penalty and stadium ban in the event of a breach of the General Ticketing Terms and Conditions and stadium rules
10.1. The rules of conduct listed in the stadium rules and in number 10.4 – which are applicable throughout the stadium and, if not explicitly limited to the stadium, to trips organised by the club to and from matches or other club events – serve to protect the interests of players, spectators and everyone else present at events at the stadium, the interests of individuals who necessarily or by chance come into contact with such events, as well as the interests of the clubs involved in the respective matches (especially from club punishments for the misconduct of spectators).
10.2. In the event of a breach of these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions, the stadium rules or applicable rules of conduct, VfL Wolfsburg may, notwithstanding any other claims, demand payment of a contractual penalty of up to €500 set by VfL Wolfsburg at its due discretion, unless the General Ticketing Terms and Conditions provide for a higher contractual penalty.
10.3. In addition, VfL Wolfsburg reserves the right to refuse entry to or expel from the stadium without refund of the purchase price, and to exclude from future ticket purchases and ban from the stadium individuals who infringe the General Ticketing Terms and Conditions or the stadium rules.
10.4. The bringing in, possession, holding, transfer, detonation and ignition of fireworks, signal ammunition and other pyrotechnic devices (e.g. Roman candles, flares, rockets, fireballs, smoke powder, comets, magnesium torches, etc.) on the grounds of and in the VOLKWAGEN ARENA are prohibited by the stadium rules, especially and also for fans of the visiting side. It is also prohibited to assist with the preparation and execution of the prohibited actions (e.g. by covering devices with flags, banners, etc.).
10.5. For culpable breaches of these prohibitions, VfL Wolfsburg and/or the visiting club may claim a contractual penalty of €3,000 in each case. In addition, VfL Wolfsburg and/or the visiting club will claim damages from visitors to recover any penalties imposed by FIFA, UEFA or DFB sports tribunals against VfL Wolfsburg for the conduct described above. This does not affect further claims for damages, prohibitory claims or other contractual claims.
11. Recovery of gains
11.1. Conditions: if tickets are assigned without authorisation by the ticket holder pursuant to number 8 of these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions, the club is entitled, in addition to the contractual penalty pursuant to number 10 of these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions and other sanctions provided for by these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions, to recover from the ticket holder all or part of the gains or profit realised by the ticket holder as a result of the unauthorised assignment.
11.2. Amount: the question of whether and how much profit is to be recovered depends in particular on the number and intensity of the breaches, the type and extent of culpability (intent or negligence), the efforts and success of the ticket holder to make good the damages, the question of whether and to what extent the act has previously been committed and in the case of the unauthorised resale of tickets, the number of tickets offered, sold, transferred or used, as well as any gains or profit generated by the sale.
12. Liability and disclaimer
12.1. VfL Wolfsburg, its statutory representatives or agents, are only liable for intent and gross negligence. They are also liable for simple negligence if essential contractual obligations are breached, but only for typical, foreseeable damages. The above restrictions do not affect claims for damages to life, limb or health and claims under the German Product Liability Act.
12.2. Stadium visitors whose culpable behaviour is in breach of the stadium rules or these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions are liable to VfL Wolfsburg for the damages resulting from this conduct. This applies particularly to damages incurred by VfL Wolfsburg as a result of penalties imposed on it as a club.
13. Amendments to these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions
13.1. Amendments to these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions, to a season ticket subscription within the meaning of number 6.2 of the General Ticketing Terms and Conditions and any additional terms and conditions will be offered to the contracting party by VfL Wolfsburg in the form permitted by law no later than three weeks before their proposed effective date.
13.2. The contracting party is deemed to have accepted the offer from VfL Wolfsburg if it does not indicate its rejection of the amendments before the proposed effective date. VfL Wolfsburg will draw particular attention to this mode of acceptance when it makes the offer. VfL Wolfsburg will then apply the amended version of the General Ticketing Terms and Conditions, the amended season ticket subscription or the additional terms and conditions to the contractual relationship from then on.
14. Contact data for VfL Wolfsburg and the contracting party
14.1. The contact details for the Service Centre of VfL Wolfsburg are: VfL Wolfsburg, Service Centre, In den Allerwiesen 1, 38446 Wolfsburg, Germany. Email: service@vfl-wolfsburg.de. Telephone: +49 5361 8903 903 (Costs depend on service provider).
14.2. The contracting party is obliged to provide their current contact details and any changes to them. The contracting party bears the consequences if access to tickets or notifications is not possible because of missing or incorrect contact details for which VfL Wolfsburg is not responsible.
14.3. The European Union provides an online platform which the contracting party/customer can use to resolve consumer disputes without recourse to the law courts. The platform is available at https://ec.europa.eu/odr/. VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH is neither willing nor obliged to take part in a dispute resolution procedure before a consumer arbitration board.
15. Place of performance/jurisdiction
15.1. For deliveries, services and payments under this contract, including its auxiliary conditions, the sole place of performance is Wolfsburg.
15.2. If the contracting party is a business within the meaning of the German Commercial Code (HGB), a public law institution or a public fund, if it has no general place of jurisdiction in Germany or if its place of residence or usual abode is unknown at the time of litigation, the sole place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from and in connection with the contract is Wolfsburg.
15.3. The place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from the contract is also agreed to be Wolfsburg for cross-border contracts.
16. Other provisions
16.1. VfL Wolfsburg is entitled to use third parties to perform its contractual obligations.
16.2. All relations between the contracting party and VfL Wolfsburg are governed solely by the law of the Federal Republic of Germany. The UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) does not apply.
16.3. No verbal ancillary agreements have been concluded. Amendments to this contract must be in writing. This also includes changes of written form requirements. In the event that individual provisions of these General Ticketing Terms and Conditions are or become invalid or impracticable, this does not affect the validity of the other provisions. The invalid or impracticable provision shall be replaced by the valid and practicable provision, the effects of which form the closest possible approximation of the commercial purpose intended by the contractual parties with the invalid and/or impracticable provision.
Stadium regulations Volkswagen Arena
Section 1 – Area of application / purpose
1. The stadium regulations serve to ensure the proper usage of, and safety and orderliness in, the Volkswagen Arena and its connected outer facilities, including the safety ring.
2. On the enclosed location map, which is an integral part of these stadium regulations, the area of application is indicated by a continuous red line.
3. Visitors to the Volkswagen Arena acknowledge these stadium regulations as binding with the purchase of an admission ticket, and affirm this at the latest by entering the Volkswagen Arena. These stadium regulations apply to all events that take place in the Volkswagen Arena.
Section 2 – Dedicated use
1. The primary function of the Volkswagen Arena is to hold football matches. Other sports and non-sports events can also take place here.
2. The general public has no claim or entitlement to use of the Volkswagen Arena or any of its individual facilities.
3. In case of third-party use of the Volkswagen Arena, the pertinent contracts are to be concluded in compliance with German civil law.
Section 3 – Control over access to premises
1. Representatives and agents of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH have the legal right of control over access to the premises, as do the police and the security forces (SOD) in service during events. They are entitled to issue binding instructions to visitors in accordance with these stadium regulations.
Section 4 – Stay of visit
1. Only persons bearing a valid admission ticket or other proof of admission entitlement, or who can prove their admission entitlement for the respective event with some other form of authorisation identification, may enter the Volkswagen Arena and its connected outer facilities and are authorised for a stay of visit.
2. When visiting a football match, a maximum of two adults in conjunction with at least one child are allowed to enter and stay in the area of the “Wölfikurve”. An exception to this rule applies to pensioners and elderly people in this area. They may also stay in this area when not accompanied by children.
3. Children under the age of 14 are only permitted to enter the Volkswagen Arena accompanied by a responsible adult.
4. Each spectator must occupy the seat in the stadium that is indicated on their ticket or for which their ticket is valid. However, they may be required, if so ordered by the organiser, the SOD or the police, to move to another seat if this is necessary for an important reason (e.g. safety considerations), in which case they shall not be entitled to compensation. This applies especially to supporters of visiting clubs who, even though they bear a valid ticket, will not be admitted to Areas marked as home fan section (Heimfanbereich). Since the organiser is obliged to separate home and visiting fans for safety reasons the SOD is instructed to refuse admission to the stadium to visiting fans who have purchased tickets for the home fan section.
5. Upon leaving the Volkswagen Arena, the ticket loses its validity; this also applies to the season tickets with regard to admission on that specific match day.
6. In justified exceptional cases, visitors can be required, upon request by the SOD or police, to verify their identify by providing an official identity document.
7. The latest edition of the rules and regulations stated by VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH applies to visits to the Volkswagen Arena on event-free days.
8. Within the jurisdiction of the stadium regulations, attendance in the stadium is prohibited to persons who are clearly heavily intoxicated, carrying dangerous or prohibited items pursuant to Section 7 of the stadium regulations or who intend to compromise safety.
9. To ensure and optimise safety in the stadium for all visitors, the Volkswagen Arena and some sections of the surrounding area (max. 500 metres) are permanently monitored by video cameras, in accordance with Art. 6(1)(1)(f) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in conjunction with Section 4 German Data Protection Act (BDSG). The recordings are stored securely, serve as evidence in the event of a criminal offences or a breach of the law and are provided to law enforcement and other relevant authorities. Unless any relevant activity occurs, the video recordings are erased automatically in accordance with the data protection legislation in effect in the Federal Republic of Germany. On match days and/or event days, the regulatory authorities and law enforcement also use video surveillance systems under their own responsibility to avert risk and investigate crimes in accordance with the statutory provisions applicable in the Federal Republic of Germany. The video recordings made on match days and/or event days are treated confidentially by all the authorities involved, but may be used as evidence if a criminal offence (whether a misdemeanour or a more serious offence) is committed or suspected. If nothing untoward takes place during the event, the video recordings are erased automatically in accordance with the data protection legislation in effect in the Federal Republic of Germany. Video and audio recordings made in accordance with Section 4 Subsection 10 may also be sent to courts and public authorities for law enforcement purposes.
10. During an event, images (e.g. photographs, live streams, broadcasts, and/or other visual and/or audio recordings) are made by VfL Wolfsburg and accredited third parties (e.g. journalists and freelance photographers) in order to document the event (e.g. press commentary, reporting, club history), for commercial use (e.g. image films for social media channels, flyers, posters, fan merchandise catalogues and for use in the VfL Wolfsburg sustainability report), and on the basis of a balance of interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). These purposes are in our legitimate interest. You are referred to your right to object defined in Art. 21 GDPR.
11. Visiting the Volkswagen Arena for purposes of media reporting on the event (television, radio, internet, print, photo) is permissible only with the prior consent of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH and in the areas specially designated for media representatives. Ticket holders are therefore prohibited from making audio, photographic or video recordings, or communicating descriptions or results of the match, without the prior consent of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH, unless this is done solely for personal, non-commercial purposes. Under no circumstances may audio, photographic or video recordings be publicly disseminated, nor may support be provided to other persons engaged in such activities, without the prior consent of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH. This includes dissemination via the internet or by mobile phone. The media guidelines of the Deutsche Fußball-Liga GmbH (German Football Association; DFL) and the respective regulations of other pertinent football associations (e.g. DFB, UEFA, FIFA) also apply to the activities of media representatives within the scope of a football event.
Section 5 – Entry checks / checks by the SOD
1. Upon entering the Volkswagen Arena facilities and at control points within the arena, each visitor is obliged to voluntarily show his or her ticket or other authorisation pass to the SOD, and to hand it over for closer scrutiny upon request. This obligation also applies to requests by the police.
2. For discounted tickets (e.g. in the case of pensioners, students), proof of the discount justification (e.g. pensioner or student ID card) must be voluntarily presented to the SOD at access control points to the Volkswagen Arena. If proof of entitlement to the discount cannot be presented, the difference between the reduced and the regular admission price must be paid. Otherwise, the SOD is authorised to deny access to the ticket holder.
3. The SOD is entitled to search persons and the items they are carrying – this includes the use of technical equipment – to ascertain whether they pose a security risk due to alcohol or drug consumption, or because they are carrying weapons, pyrotechnical or other dangerous items.
4. Persons who are unable to provide proof of authorised entry or pose a safety risk as per Section 5 Subsection 3 shall be denied admission and prevented from entering the Volkswagen Arena, or expelled from the area of jurisdiction of the stadium regulations.
5. The same applies to persons against whom a nationwide stadium entry ban, or a stadium-specific entry ban, is in effect, and for visitors who refuse to allow a security check pursuant to Section 5 Subsection 3.
6. The SOD is entitled to verify the identity of visitors by checking their government-issued identity documents (e.g. identity card, passport, etc.). Those who refuse to consent to search or identity verification at a visitor security control check can be refused entry to the Volkswagen Arena.
7. Rejected visitors are not entitled to a refund of the admission fee.
8. VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH stands for an open-minded, tolerant football culture and condemns xenophobic, racist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic, sexist, ableistic violent, antisemitic, left-wing and right-wing extremist behaviour, as well as other discriminatory radical views and political ideologies. Consequently, persons whose outward appearance gives the impression that they embrace such behaviours, views or political associations can be excluded from attending all events. The outward appearance includes in particular group-typical clothing with themed graphic characters on which various number or letter combinations signify the views of the wearer, or certain clothing brands that serve to identify such an attitude (e.g. Thor Steinar, Consdaple, Yakuza). Furthermore, people who exhibit such behaviour, attitudes or political ideology by means of flags, patches, propaganda material, calls or statements can be excluded from all events.
Section 6 – Behaviour in the area of jurisdiction of the stadium regulations
1. Within the area of jurisdiction, each visitor must behave in such a way that no other person is harmed, endangered, or hindered or harassed to a greater extent than is unavoidable under the circumstances.
2. All visitors must unreservedly obey the instructions of the event organiser, the SOD, the police, fire brigade, rescue services and the stadium spokesperson.
3. For safety reasons and to avert risk, visitors are obliged to obey instructions issued by authorities mentioned in Section 6 Subsection 2 to take seats other than those printed on their tickets (including in other areas) or to leave the stadium and the adjacent outdoor facilities.
4. All entrances and exits, as well as escape and rescue routes, are to be kept free for their intended purpose without restriction.
Notwithstanding these stadium regulations, authorities mentioned in Section 6 Subsection 2 may issue further instructions as necessary in specific cases to avert or remove danger to life, limb or property. Orders issued pursuant to this purpose must be obeyed.
Section 7 – Prohibitions
1. It is forbidden for guest fans to be or stay in areas designated as home fan areas. The home fan areas are blocks A and F, 01-15 and 37-43 in the lower tier of the arena and blocks 02-16, 38-44 and 56-64 in the upper tier of the arena. VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH reserves the right to make regulations for individual games that deviate from the procedure mentioned. The SOD has been instructed and is authorised to expel spectators who are recognizably fans of a guest team or who indicate this through their behaviour, even if they have a valid ticket for this area. If the Arena is sold out, the spectators in question will be expelled from the stadium, or admission to the stadium will be denied. The wearing or display of fan items or gear of the guest club is strictly prohibited in the VfL fan area.
2. The south-east area of the Volkswagen Arena (lower tier blocks 29, 33 and 35) is designated specifically as the fan viewing area for the guest club. A variable expansion of the guest fan viewing area in the upper tier (blocks 30 – 36) is possible, depending on the needs of the guest club. It is forbidden for any fan of the host team to stay or loiter in these areas. The SOD has been instructed and is authorised to expel spectators who are recognizably fans of a guest team or who indicate this through their behaviour, even if they have a valid ticket for this area. If the Arena is sold out, the spectators in question will be expelled from the stadium, or access to the stadium will be denied. The wearing or display of fan items or gear of the home club is strictly prohibited in the visiting fan area.
3. Provoking other spectators to express hatred or violence toward referees, players or other persons is forbidden.
4. It is strictly forbidden for visitors to carry, keep available, or leave the following items in the Volkswagen Arena:
- a. Racist, xenophobic, homophobic, transphobic, biphobic, sexist, ableistic or extreme right-wing propaganda material;
- b. Advertising or commercial items, as well as political or religious items of all kinds, such as banners, signs, flyers or the like, without the express prior permission of the organiser;
- c. Weapons or dangerous objects of all kinds that could possibly cause or lead to injury;
- d. Objects that could be used as weapons or projectiles;
- e. Laser pointers;
- f. Aerosol spray cans (e.g. deodorant spray, hairspray, pepper spray); solid, liquid or gaseous substances or objects that are corrosive, easily flammable, leave stains or are injurious to health (exception: urgently required medicines);
- g. Bottles, cups, beer mugs, cans or other containers made of fragile, splintering or particularly hard material;
- h. Food and drink of any kind, especially alcoholic drinks. The only drinks that can be taken into the stadium are up to 0.5 litres of non-alcoholic drinks in soft packaging (e.g. “Tetra Pak”) for children up to 10 years of age;
- i. Bulky items such as ladders, stools, chairs, boxes, suitcases;
- j. Torches, fireworks, flares, Bengal flares, distress flares and other pyrotechnic items, sparklers;
- k. Flag or banner poles that are longer than 1.5 metres or whose diameter is larger than 3 cm;
- l. Alcoholic beverages of any kind;
- m. Any kind of drug;
- n. Noise-making instruments and launchers which are mechanically or pneumatically driven (VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH reserves the right to make exceptions);
- o. All moving image cameras (e.g. video cameras), all photographic cameras with interchangeable lenses (e.g. single-lens reflex (SLR) or system cameras), as well as medium or large-format cameras;
- p. Large umbrellas with a spike.
5. In order to ensure safety and keep escape and rescue routes clear, the conveying of medically necessary walking aids is only allowed in areas with seats and/or specially designated areas. The SOD is entitled to assign an appropriate location to a visitor using a walking aid, in accordance with Section 6 Subsection 3.
6. In addition, visitors are prohibited from the following:
- a. Communicating racist, xenophobic, homophobic, transphobic, biphobic, sexist, ableistic or radical right-wing statements, and committing extreme acts of any kind
- b. Accessing or climbing over buildings, facilities and fixtures – in particular facades, fences, walls, playing field enclosures, barriers, lighting structures, camera stands, trees, planted areas, roofs and towers of any kind – which are not intended for general use
- c. Entering areas where visitors are not permitted (e.g. the playing field, the inner area, function-specific rooms) without the consent of the event organiser or the police
- d. Throwing objects or liquids of any type, in particular onto the playing field or visitor areas
- e. Making fires, or bringing in, igniting or launching other pyrotechnic items, such as fireworks, signal ammunition, magnesium torches, smoke bombs, Bengal fire, etc.
- f. Enabling the preparation and execution of forbidden acts described in Section 7 Subsection 6e (e.g. by concealing them with two-pole banners or flags);
- g. Disguising themselves;
- h. Painting, marking or gluing equipment, facilities, buildings, or pathways;
- i. Entering the grounds of the Volkswagen Arena with vehicles, selling tickets and goods, selling or distributing printed material, brochures, etc. or collecting money, items or signatures without the permission of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH;
- j. Urinating or defecating outside the designated toilets, or soiling the grounds of the Volkswagen Arena in any other manner, particularly by throwing away items;
- k. Bringing along pets
7. Building, setting up, installing or storing objects, in particular setting up tents and caravans, as well as staying overnight within the area of jurisdiction of these stadium regulations, are not permitted at any time. Exceptions to these provisions are the prerogative of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH.
8. Throwing objects of any type, in particular onto the playing field or visitor areas
Section 8 – Prohibition of alcohol / beverage dispensing
The sale and serving of alcoholic beverages within the area of jurisdiction of these stadium regulations is strictly prohibited. Exceptions are governed by VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH, in consultation with the responsible safety and security authorities.
Section 9 – Stadium WiFi
WiFi access is provided (through “hotspots”) free of charge in the arena. This is a voluntary service offered by VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH that can be restricted or discontinued at any time. Visitors therefore have no right to demand access to the hotspot, to be able to use certain services over the hotspot, or to enjoy unlimited, disturbance-free and uninterrupted access to the internet. A prerequisite for use of the hotspot is personal registration and approval of the terms and conditions of use and of the privacy policy, which can be viewed during the hotspot login process.
Section 10 – Liability
1. Visitors enter and use the Volkswagen Arena at their own risk.
2. Accidents or damage must be reported immediately to VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH. VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH, its legal representatives and/or vicarious agents shall only be liable for damages, regardless of the legal basis, in the event of intent or gross negligence or – in this case limited to the damage foreseeable at the time of entering into the contract and typical for this type of contract – in the event of a breach of material contractual obligations.
3. VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH is not liable for personal injury or property damage caused by third parties.
Section 11 – Violations
1. Whoever violates the provisions of this usage regulation can, without prejudice to the other rights of the VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH, be expelled from the Volkswagen Arena without compensation and without a refund of the admission fee. This applies also to persons who are intoxicated or under the influence of other mind-altering substances that impair functional ability.
2. A stadium ban can be imposed against persons who, through their behaviour inside or outside of the Volkswagen Arena in conjunction with a football match, hinder or endanger the safety and orderly conduct of the event. This entry ban may be limited to the arena itself or, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the DFB, be expanded to be effective nationwide.
Stadium bans can also be issued by the police or SOD against groups of persons if violations cannot be specifically attributed to individuals, but behaviour can be attributed to members of the group as a whole.
3. If there is suspicion that persons have committed a criminal offence or a misdemeanour, charges can be filed.
4. If the organiser is enjoined to redress claims for damages and/or pay fines stemming from a third party due to prohibited and/or disorderly conduct, the organiser shall seek recourse by asserting these claims against the perpetrator. The same applies to property damage for which the perpetrator is liable. If multiple parties are responsible, these are jointly liable within the meaning of Section 421 German Civil Code (BGB).
5. Prohibited items that are carried or conveyed will be confiscated and, insofar as they are not required for a criminal investigation, shall be returned upon request following cessation of the premise for their confiscation or, beyond a period of four weeks after the event, destroyed at the expense of the visitor. VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH and/or the organiser will not be held liable for any loss or damage of confiscated items. Excepted from return are items that have been confiscated in accordance with Section 7 Subsection (3) (a, c, i and l).
6. The rights of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH as the owner of property rights remain unaffected.
Wolfsburg, January 2023
VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH
Management Board
Signed Signed Signed
Michael Meeske Marcel Schäfer Dr T. Schumacher
Download: Stadium-regulation-Volkswagen-Arena-2023