Stadiums / Germany
VELTINS-Arena
FC Schalke 04 — Gelsenkirchen
| Address | Ernst-Kuzorra-Weg 1, 45891 Gelsenkirchen, Germany Map (OpenStreetMap) |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 62,271 [source] |
| Airports | DUS Düsseldorf Airport — 36 km straight-line · The nearest big international airport. From Düsseldorf Flughafen station take a regional or long-distance train towards the Ruhr area and change to a train to Gelsenkirchen Hbf; we did not find a direct line, so plan the exact connection in DB Navigator or the VRR planner. DTM Dortmund Airport — 38 km straight-line · The AirportExpress bus runs non-stop to Dortmund Hbf in about 25 minutes (separate ticket); from there take a regional train to Gelsenkirchen Hbf and then the tram 302. Check the exact train in DB Navigator. |
| Long-distance rail | Gelsenkirchen Hbf · The tram stop is on the first underground level of the station. Regional trains RE2, RE3, RE42, RB32, RB35, RB46 and the S2 stop here (Bogestra's line plan). The tram 302 runs from here straight to the VELTINS-Arena stop. |
| Time zone | Europe/Berlin |
| Official site | veltins-arena.de |
Distances are straight-line from published coordinates, not by road.
Source: en.wikipedia.org · checked 5 November 2026
Source: veltins-arena.de, dortmund-airport.com, dus.com, api.bogestra.de · checked 5 November 2026
Getting back at night
Back to Gelsenkirchen Hbf is the same tram 302, in the direction of Bochum, from the VELTINS-Arena stop. Bogestra's regular timetable has its last departure from the arena at 00:53 Monday to Friday, 00:39 on Saturdays and 00:38 on Sundays and holidays, reaching the Hbf about 16 minutes later. Extra tram cars run for big events, but no after-match timetable is published.
Last services
| Mode | Line | From → to | Last service | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tram Mon–Fri | 302 | VELTINS-Arena → Gelsenkirchen Hbf (towards Bochum) | 00:53 | every 30 min late in the evening (regular timetable). Regular timetable: 23:23, 23:53, 00:23, 00:53 from the arena stop, reaching Hbf about 16 minutes later (the last at 01:09). Extra cars run for big events. [source] |
| Tram Sat | 302 | VELTINS-Arena → Gelsenkirchen Hbf (towards Bochum) | 00:39 | every 30 min late in the evening (regular timetable). Regular timetable: 23:23, 23:53, 00:23, 00:39 from the arena stop; the last reaches Hbf at 00:55. [source] |
| Tram Sun | 302 | VELTINS-Arena → Gelsenkirchen Hbf (towards Bochum) | 00:38 | every 30 min late in the evening (regular timetable). Sundays and public holidays: 23:23, 23:53, 00:23, 00:38 from the arena stop; the last reaches Hbf at 00:54. [source] |
| Night bus Fri–Sat | NE10 (NachtExpress) | VELTINS-Arena → Gelsenkirchen (night network) | not published | Bogestra's 302 line plan lists the NE10 at the VELTINS-Arena stop. The NachtExpress lines run in the nights before Saturday, Sunday and public holidays; the NE10 times were not read. [source] |
| Shuttle Event days | Kumpelkarre | Charly-Neumann-Brücke entrance → Gesamtschule car park | not published | Free shuttle for fans with mobility limitations; returns about 30 minutes after the final whistle. [source] |
Queues at the station
Neither the arena nor Schalke publishes queue times for the tram. The arena only says enough extra cars run for many big events, and the roads around the ground are restricted while fans leave.
If you miss it
Take a taxi from the Parkallee stand (about five minutes on foot from the arena) or the one outside the main entrance. After 00:53 Monday to Friday the 302 has stopped. On the nights before Saturday, Sunday and holidays a NachtExpress bus (NE10 at the arena stop) takes over.
Source: api.bogestra.de, veltins-arena.de, bogestra.de · checked 5 November 2026
How a visitor gets a ticket
In practice members only
Schalke is back in the Bundesliga for 2026-27 and tickets for its first home games went to members and sold out within an hour; the club announced there would be no free sale ('ein freier Verkauf wird daher nicht stattfinden'). The official Ticketbörse needs a logged-in S04 account; the page does not say membership is required (not confirmed). For a visitor this is the hardest of the four German grounds to get into; look at official hospitality or a match with a smaller draw.
Buy only from Schalke. The 2026-27 ticket terms let the club sell combined tickets that include public transport in the tariff area for the trip to and from the stadium; read what your ticket says.
Official channels only
- Official ticket sale: schalke04.de
- Official resale: schalke04.de
- Official hospitality: schalke04.de
We never link unofficial resellers: tickets bought there are cancelled at the gate, and in the UK reselling football tickets without the club’s authorisation is a criminal offence.
Source: schalke04.de, schalke04.de, storage.schalke04.de · checked 5 November 2026
Getting there
Public transport
From Gelsenkirchen Hbf take the tram 302 (direction GE-Buer) from the first underground level straight to the VELTINS-Arena stop, about 15 minutes. The arena says that for Schalke home games the trip is included in the ticket price; the club's ticket terms allow combined tickets that cover public transport in the tariff area for the trip to and from the stadium. Confirm what is printed on your own ticket.
- Tram 302 towards GE-Buer from Gelsenkirchen Hbf to VELTINS-Arena: about 15 minutes, no change. The stop is not step-free; Willy-Brandt-Allee is, and is about a 15-minute walk from the arena.
- For many big events enough extra tram cars run ('ausreichend Sonderwagen'); no match-day interval is published.
- Entrances open two hours before kick-off.
- Visiting fans: shuttle buses wait at the station's south exit when needed and drive to the Gelsenwasser car park; if no buses are laid on, visiting fans take the 302 with the home fans.
Source: veltins-arena.de, schalke04.de, storage.schalke04.de, schalke04.de · checked 5 November 2026
Driving and parking
Possible, but roads around the ground are closed or restricted around kick-off and full-time. Parking tickets can be bought in advance online or by phone; on site only cash is currently accepted. Parking is free on days without a game or event. Drop-off zones are C1, C2, P6 and Emil-Zimmermann-Allee 28.
- The arena lists parking areas A, B, C1 to C3, D1 to D4, E1 and E2, P6, the multi-storey P2-PH1 to PH3 and the Medicos car park.
- For events in October and November 2026 the city announced that Adenauerallee between Schweidnitzer Straße and Willy-Brandt-Allee is closed to through traffic while fans leave, and asks drivers to avoid the surrounding streets at arrival and departure times.
- Fans with limited mobility: the free Kumpelkarre shuttle runs from the Gesamtschule car park to the Charly-Neumann-Brücke entrance from two hours before kick-off and back about 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Source: veltins-arena.de, gelsenkirchen.de · checked 5 November 2026
Taxi and ride-hailing apps
There are two official taxi stands: in front of the main entrance (LaOla) and on Parkallee at the corner of Adenauerallee, about a five-minute walk from the arena. Ride apps are not mentioned by the arena.
- Road closures around the arena after the match make the Parkallee stand the likelier pick-up point; allow time for traffic.
Source: veltins-arena.de · checked 5 November 2026
Bags and documents
Bags larger than DIN A4 may not come into the arena. If you need one, leave it free of charge at the South Entrance (Eingang Süd): you get a deposit token and collect it after the match.
- Entrances always open two hours before kick-off.
Documents: The pages we read do not mention a photo-ID check for adults at the gate.
Source: schalke04.de · checked 5 November 2026
Where to stay
| Area | Why |
|---|---|
| Gelsenkirchen Hbf / city centre | The tram 302 starts at the station and runs straight to the arena in about 15 minutes, and the last departure back is 00:38 to 00:53 by day of week. |
| Buer | Beyond the arena on the same 302 (terminus GE-Buer Rathaus), so you can ride either way and avoid the crowd heading to the Hbf. |
| Bochum / Essen / Dortmund | Regional trains run to Gelsenkirchen Hbf from the Ruhr cities, and the 302 itself continues to Bochum Hbf. After a 23:00 finish check the last train home before you book. |
Source: api.bogestra.de · checked 5 November 2026
Upcoming events
Sample dataThese events are examples used to test the page. They are not real listings. Real fixtures and concerts will appear once the daily update is connected.
Matches of the home club (football-data.org) and concerts sold through Ticketmaster, next 12 months. Also includes events checked by hand on official sites. Concerts sold by other ticket sellers are not listed. No prices: the seller’s site has the current one. Updated 5 November 2026.
When kick-off times are set (Bundesliga): Bundesliga kick-off times are set in blocks, usually at least 4 weeks ahead, once European and cup dates are known. [source]
No events listed for the next 12 months.