Veltins Arena

Description

The capacity of the arena is 61,673 spectators for German league matches, reduced to 54,142 for international matches. In this configuration, the Arena AufSchalke offers seating only. The two tiers of stands are separated by 81 VIP boxes (72 Victoria-Tribune, 9 Gazprom-Tribune) around the entire pitch. The retractable roof, made of Teflon-coated fiberglass, can be opened or the entire stadium surface can be protected.

History

At the end of the 1990s, the project for a new stadium to replace the aging Parkstadion with a multifunctional arena was born. Schalke’s victory in the 1997 UEFA Cup and the approach of the club’s centenary only accelerated the process.

The Arena AufSchalke was built next to the old stadium on land owned by the club.

The level of performance allows the stadium to be classified as a “five-star” stadium by UEFA (in 2006, this level was replaced by “category 4”). This means that Champions League finals can be held here, as was the case in the 2003-2004 edition. The Arena Aufschalke also hosts matches of the European Football League and concerts (AC/DC, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi).

Special features

The removable playing area can be taken out of the stadium in four hours, so that it is not damaged during the concerts and the grass can grow in natural conditions. Another special feature is that four giant screens are attached to each side of a cube suspended above the center circle. The stadium has fifteen restaurants and thirty-five cafés. These restaurants are supplied with beer by a distribution network of five kilometers of pipes that bring the beverage from a large common reservoir.