VELTINS-Arena

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Key facts

Club: FC Schalke 04 | Opening: 2001 | Capacity: 61,673 (16,000 standing)

History and description

The VELTINS-Arena, before 2005 known as the Arena aufSchalke, replaced Schalke’s old Parkstadion.

The VELTINS-Arena was the first stadium in Germany that was completely privately financed without government subsidies. It came at a cost of €191 million.

The Veltins Arena officially opened on the 13th of August 2001 with a friendly three-team tournament between FC Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund, and 1. FC Nürnberg. The first match played at the stadium was the one between Schalke 04 and Dortmund (0-0).

The stadium is one of the most technically advanced in Europe with its combination of retractable roof, slide-out pitch, and movable South Stand.

The VELTINS-Arena was one of the playing venues of the 2006 World Cup, hosting four group matches and the quarter-final between Portugal and England (0-0).

Two years earlier, in 2004, it had hosted Champions League final between FC Porto and AS Monaco 3-0.

Getting there

The VELTINS-Arena is located in the north of Gelsenkirchen, in-between the A42 and A2 motorways that cross the city from the east to the west.

If arriving from the A42, take exit 17 Gelsenkirchen-Schalke. Turn north onto the Alfred-Zingler-Straße and follow the road with a left curve for about 2 kilometres. Turn right onto the Kurt-Schumacher-Straße and continue until you see the stadium on the right hand side.

From the A2, take exit Gelsenkirchen-Buer. Turn left at the roundabout, and after a few hundred meters again left onto the Kurt-Schumacher-Straße. After a little more than a kilometre the stadium will show up on your left.

Following the Kurt-Schumacher-Straße south for about 6 kilometres brings you to Gelsenkirchen’s city centre.

If using public transport, the stadium can be reached with tram 302 from Gelsenkirchen’s mail railway station (Hauptbahnhof). Take the tram (Stadtbahn) in the direction of GE-Buer and get off after approximately 15 minutes at stop VELTINS-Arena.

Address: Ernst-Kuzorra-Weg 1, 45891 Gelsenkirchen

Eat, drink, and sleep

The area around the VELTINS-Arena is of little interest in terms of entertainment, though there are a Multiplex cinema and some food outlets on the complex that also include the remains of the old Parkstadion.

There are two hotels in the close vicinity of the stadium: the Courtyard by Marriott comes in the high-end category, while the Hotel Arena is for those with a more modest budget.

While there are more hotels in Gelsenkirchen’s city centre, you will be better off staying in a Düsseldorf or Bochum if you want to enjoy the nightlife. Regional trains and the S-Bahn connect both cities with Gelsenkirchen’s main railway station.

Tickets

Tickets for Schalke 04 matches can be bought online, by phone +49 (0) 1805-150810 (TicketTelefon), or at the S04-ServiceCenter at the VELTINS-Arena.

Schalke sells out almost every home league match, save the odd exception. Tickets for most matches will be available in pre-sale though.

Tickets prices range from €26.00 for an upper-tier corner seat to €52.00 for a central seat at one of the long sides. A ticket for the standing areas costs €15.50.

Schalke charges €10.00 more for a seat for the matches against Dortmund and Bayern.

Attendances

Stadium tours

Schalke 04 offers guided stadium tours that include access to the press room, changing rooms, business club, and Schalke-Museum. The tours last about 75 minutes.

Tours generally run Tuesdays to Sundays, but can be cancelled when there is an event at the VELTINS-Arena. Tours typically run twice a day, often one at noon and one later in the afternoon. Check Schalke 04′s website for exact dates and hours.

Bookings are required, and can be made by phone +49 (0) 3892 900 or email tour@veltins-arena.de. The tour costs €9.00.

Entrance to the Schalke-Museum only costs €5.00. The museum is opened Tuesdays to Fridays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (5:00 pm between March and February). On Saturdays and Sundays the stadium opens from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

For more information email museum@schalke04.de or call +49 (0) 209 3892 900.

Photos

Relevant Internet links

Schalke04.de – Official website of FC Schalke 04.
Veltins-arena.de – Official website of the VELTINS-Arena.
VRR.de – Journey planner and ticket information.