There’s a lot happening at FC Schalke 04’s Veltins-Arena this year. Alongside the 2nd Bundesliga matches, the European Championship, and Taylor Swift concerts, there are numerous other events taking place at the home ground of the Royal Blues.
But that’s not all. FC Schalke 04 has just announced a major development. Fans can look forward to Champions League football at the Veltins-Arena.
FC Schalke 04 Announces Major News
The days when FC Schalke 04 played in the Champions League seem like a distant memory. The historic club now competes against teams like Magdeburg and Elversberg. It will take a long time before the Royal Blues can face off against the likes of Real Madrid again.
However, next season will see Champions League matches played at Schalke! Due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Shakhtar Donetsk cannot host their games in their own stadium for the 2024/25 season. Therefore, S04 will host Shakhtar’s home games at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.
“We are very pleased with this partnership and proud to support Shakhtar Donetsk by providing our stadium for their Champions League matches. Additionally, this rental agreement brings economic benefits to our club. Overall, this is a win-win situation for both clubs – we are looking forward to the matches and the collaboration,” said Matthias Tillmann, Chairman of the Royal Blues.
Champions League in Gelsenkirchen
Serhii Palkin, General Director of FC Shakhtar, commented on the partnership: “We are excited to play our UEFA Champions League matches in one of the best stadiums in Germany. The positive experiences from last season show that Shakhtar has strong support from fans in this country, both locals and Ukrainian refugees. This factor is very important for our club. We are grateful to the management of Schalke 04 and the city of Gelsenkirchen for their solidarity and have no doubts about our mutually beneficial cooperation. We are looking forward to the UEFA Champions League matches.”
The matches for the new Champions League season will take place over eight matchdays between September 2024 and January 2025, with four of these games being held in Gelsenkirchen. The draw on August 29 will determine which opponents Head Coach Marino Pusic’s team will face at the Veltins-Arena. Shakhtar Donetsk fans will find their home in the North Stand of the S04-Arena to support their team.
