VELTINS-Arena

The VELTINS-Arena, before 2005 known as the Arena aufSchalke, replaced Schalke's old Parkstadion. It was the first stadium in Germany that was completely privately financed without government subsidies and came at a cost of €191 million.

The VELTINS-Arena was formally inaugurated on the 13 August 2001 with a friendly three-team tournament between FC Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund, and 1. FC Nürnberg. The first match played at the ground was the one between Schalke and Dortmund (0-0).

When it opened, the ground was 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 was the venue for the Champions League final between FC Porto and AS Monaco 3-0.

The VELTINS-Arena is situated 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 ground 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 ground will show up on your left.

Following the Kurt-Schumacher-Straße south for about 6 kilometres brings you to Gelsenkirchen's downtown area.

If using public transit, the VELTINS-Arena is reachable with tram 302 from Gelsenkirchen's main railway station (Hauptbahnhof). Take the tram (Stadtbahn) in the direction of GE-Buer and get off after roughly 15 minutes at stop VELTINS-Arena.

Address: Ernst-Kuzorra-Weg 1, 45891 Gelsenkirchen

The area around the VELTINS-Arena is of little interest in terms of entertainment, though there are a Multiplex cinema and some food outlets nearby. You can also take a look at the remains of the old Parkstadion.

There are two hotels in the close vicinity of the ground: 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 downtown area, you might also want to consider staying in for example 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.

Admission for Schalke 04 matches are sold online, by phone +49 (0) 1805-150810 (Ticket Hotline), or at the S04-ServiceCenter at the VELTINS-Arena.

Schalke sell out most of their home league games, though Admission for many matches will be without difficulty available if bought well in advance. For high-profile matches it is recommended to buy straightaway when they go on sale for the general public.

When sold out or if you need to find a ticket last-minute, secondary ticket websites such as viagogo offer a generally reliable alternative, though expect to pay more than face value.

Ticket 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 area costs €15.50.

Schalke charges €10.00 more for a seat for the matches against Dortmund and Bayern. Visitors will find a seating plan of the VELTINS-Arena here.

Schalke 04 offer guided venue tours that include access to the press room, changing rooms, business club, and Schalke-Museum. The tours run for around 75 minutes.

Tours generally run most days of the week twice a day, but can get cancelled when visitors will find an event at the VELTINS-Arena. Check out the official website for the current schedule. Call +49 (0) 209 3618 900, or email tour@schalke04.de for bookings. The tour price is €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 museum opens from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Further details are available by email at museum@schalke04.de or call +49 (0) 209 3892 900.