Cristal Arena

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The Cristal Arena, until 2007 called Fenix Stadion, is the home of KRC Genk. The stadium has a capacity of 24,604, of which 4,200 standing places.

Until the 1990s the stadium went by the name of André Dumontstadion. It was the home stadium of local club Thor Waterschei, but after the club merged with Winterslag to form KRC Genk in 1988, the newly formed club initially decided to use Winterslag’s ground.

After two years the club moved back to André Dumontstadion though, where in the meantime a new main stand had been constructed. The stadium was subsequently renamed Thyl Gheyselinckstadion.

After the increased successes of the club in the late 1990s, a major redevelopment program was started. In a first phase two new two-tiered fully covered stands were built. After the opening of the new stands, the stadium name got changed again, this time to Fenix Stadion.

In 2002 the South Stand got rebuilt in the style of the other new stands, and a few years later the main stand got extensively renovated. After that renovation, in 2007, the naming rights of the stadium were sold to beer brewer Alken-Maes, who named the stadium after local beer brand Cristal.

Genk has at times considered to further expand the Cristal Arena to either 35,000 or 44,000 places, however no current plans exist.

Getting there

The Cristal Arena lies on the far northern edge of the city of Genk, approximately 5.5 kilometres from the city centre and main railway station.

By car, from the E314 motorway, take exit 31 Genk Centrum. From the ramps signs will guide you to the stadium.

By bus, from Genk’s main railway station, take bus G1 in the direction of Zwartberg. Get off at stop Waterschei Kerkhof (or Nieuw Texas) after an approximate 28-minute journey. Buses generally go once every half an hour.

Address: Stadionplein 4, 3600 Genk

Tickets

Tickets for Genk games can be purchased online, at the Ticketshop at the Cristal Arena, or, if tickets are still available, at the ticket counters at the stadium from 2 hours before kickoff.

Genk has decent average attendances of slightly over 20,000, and sells out the occasional high-profile match.

KRC Genk operates two pricing categories. A standing place costs €17.50 for a category A match and €15.00 for a category B match. The price of a seat for a category A match ranges between €20.00 and €30.00, and the price for a category B match between €17.50 and €27.50.

Stadium tours

KRC Genk offers guided stadium tours that include the VIP facilities, press areas, training ground, and the interactive football museum GoalMine.

Open stadium tours run every first Saturday of the month, and start at 1:30 pm. The whole program lasts 3 hours, with one hour dedicated to the GoalMine museum and two hours to the stadium tour.

Reservation are not required, and the tour runs regardless of attendance. The tour costs €10.00.

For more information email jon.hoste@goalmine.be or call +32 (0) 89 84 96 68.

Relevant Internet links:

KRCGenk.be – Official website of KRC Genk.
Uitingenk.be – Genk tourist information.
Delijn.be – Public transport journey planner.

Tags: 1990, Belgium, Eerste Klasse, Genk, KRC Genk