Veltins Arena Sports Fan Tips

Veltins Arena (or Arena AufSchalke) is the home of the FC Schalke 04. It is an indoor stadium with a retractable roof, primarily used for football games with a seating capacity of over 62,000. Located in Gelsenkirchen, about 5km from the city centre. This arena is considered one of the most technologically advanced in all of Europe, with a 4-panelled LCD screen \'video cube\' hanging from the roof, the largest of its type in the continent.

Best Food and Drink at Veltins Arena?

The Veltins Arena, being built in 2001, has 35 kiosks on the concourses for food and drinks so the queues are minimal which is always a big plus! The food is your standard German footballing food with plenty of Fries, Hot Dogs, Pretzels and Burgers. You can wash it down with a cold beer that you can bring to your seat! The beers are around the standard price €4 but you will need to pay a surcharge for the cup – which can be refunded at the end of the game.

Best restaurants near Veltins Arena?

Sometimes you have a craving for a steak that just won't be cured by eating anything else – and after watching Schalke romp to victory, why not celebrate in style at Steakhouse Restaurant Haus Witte. With an increasing reputation, as not just being one of the best steakhouses in the area – but maybe the country – it should be on your to do list.As should Bang Bang Burgers & Beer. I know, Steak one night and Burgers the next might seem a bit excessive. Well excess is what Bang Bang does well – the burgers are enormous and after a day of sightseeing – exactly what you want!Otherwise – you are in the heartland of Germany – classic mining country. Zum Hexenhaeuschen does simple German dishes cooked amazingly. The roast duck is worth it.

Best Bars around Veltins Arena?

A lot of the prematch bars are to be found near the old ground – just 4 metro stops away from the new Veltins Arena. As such, the area is heaving with blue shirts – all excited for the match.The most popular places are pretty different. Vereinslokal S04 is a very traditional place – built for the older fans, with black and white pictures that tell a tale of Schalke's history – this is a bar for the purists.Auf Schalke is just as well decorated but the resident DJ gives the place a much more upbeat feel – certainly pumping you up for the match!Closer to the ground you will find Fliegenpils, a classic sports bar and Café Del Sol – which is the closest bar to the ground – the atmosphere isn't football crazy but the food's good!In the ground – the main place for Schalke fans is Charly´s Bummelzug. Owned by a former manager – this is the place to really feel the atmosphere building,

Things to check out around Veltins Arena?

Why not go behind the scenes at the Veltins Arena and walk in the same corridors as Raul, Julian Draxler and Klaus van Huntelaar have done over the years and go on a great tour of the stadium. The tour normally lasts over 75 minutes and you get to see everything! The press rooms, the hospitality areas and more importantly down to the changing rooms, along the clubs amazing tunnel and next to the hallowed turf! For just €9 it's perfect and the tour ticket also gets you into the awesome club museum!

How do I get to Veltins Arena?

There isn't a lot of options to head to the ground from the city of Gelsenkirchen, but the option that is there is a very easy one. From under the city's main train station – you can catch the S-Bahn, line 302 and ride it all the way to the ground itself. From the Veltins Arena Stop, you only have to walk a few minutes.If you're coming by car, there are plenty of places to park – with 14,000 spots, you may be really really unlucky if you don't find a spot!A taxi from the centre of town should be no more than €15

What to expect from the Veltins Arena crowd?

Schalke 04 are one of German footballs most storied and successful institutions. While success hasn't come in the form of trophies in recent years, the 61,000 capacity stadium and its fans are used to seeing the club challenge at the top of the Bundesliga every year as well as being a regular fixture in the Champions and Europa League. This all leads to a fan base that is really in tune with the club – and when the fans are up for the game – the roof nearly comes off the place! The fans are bouncing from the first minute to the last. It really is awesome.

Best Insider tip at Veltins Arena?

Schalke are no different when it comes to buying food and drink in the concourses. The stadium operates on a cashless system, that although annoying to set up, does mean that queues are reducing at the 35 Kiosks around the ground. The Knappenkarte is available around the ground in €10, €25 and €50 denominations. Don't worry though – you can get whatever balance is left on your card back at the end of the day.

Veltins Arena seating?

The stadium was opened in 2001 and to this day remains one of the most technological advanced stadiums in the world. It has a removable pitch, that keeps the grass nice and pristine when bands and concerts are played here – and if the conditions outside aren't conducive to a great game of football – simply close the roof. Oh – the enormous TV reply screen suspended from the heavens isn't too bad either.The seats continue in this vein – all of them are a striking blue which reinforces the club's identity. The most competitive fans are to be found in the North Stand – either sitting or standing. As the standing tickets cost just €16 you might be lucky to get one. Seats in this area of the pitch are around €25.The best views are typically in the East and West stands – although with the design of the place – every seat has a phenomenal view!