View photosVeltins-Arena Seating Map
Your seating plan and chart: where to sit, the best seats and the view from your seat
“Arena AufSchalke” · “Die Arena”
Veltins-Arena in photos
4 outside · 2 inside the venue
Where to sit at Veltins-Arena
The best seats at Veltins-Arena are Haupttribüne upper, central for the view. For value, choose Gegentribüne. For atmosphere, head to Nordkurve. Avoid Back rows of the upper tiers. Veltins-Arena seats 62,271, home of FC Schalke 04.
Haupttribüne upper, central
On the halfway line, covered and high enough to read the whole pitch.
Full detail Best valueGegentribüne
A central side view for less than the main stand.
Full detail Best atmosphereNordkurve
Schalke’s standing terrace, the loudest and most colourful part of the arena.
Full detail Where to avoidBack rows of the upper tiers
Highest and furthest seats feel a long way from the far goal in a big bowl.
Full detailAbout Veltins-Arena
The Veltins-Arena holds about 62,000 for Bundesliga matches, including a huge standing terrace, and is the fortress of FC Schalke 04. Schalke’s ultras and loudest support pack the Nordkurve behind one goal, a vast single-tier standing wall for domestic games. The Haupttribüne (main stand) on the west side holds the halfway line and premium seats, with the Gegentribüne opposite and the Südkurve at the other end. For international and European matches the standing areas convert to seats, reducing capacity to around 54,700. Best central views come from the Haupttribüne upper tier.
A cutting-edge multipurpose arena opened in 2001 with a fully retractable roof, a slide-out pitch that lives outside when not in use, and a huge central video cube. A famous kilometres-long beer pipeline feeds the concourses, and the closed roof turns the bowl into a cauldron of noise on European nights.
Seating plan & map
This is the map used for ticket sales at Veltins-Arena. Exact configuration varies by event.
How the venue is set up
Bundesliga / domestic football
Around 62,000 with the Nordkurve as a large standing terrace for home ultras and a segregated away block in a corner.
European / international matches
Standing terraces convert to all-seater, cutting capacity to roughly 54,700 with a designated visiting-fan section.
Concerts / other events
The retractable roof and slide-out pitch make it a top indoor concert and event venue; it has also hosted boxing, biathlon and the Champions League final.
Seating levels explained
HaupttribüneOberrang/Unterrang West
The main grandstand with the halfway line, dugouts, tunnel and premium and press facilities.
Pros: Best central sightlines, covered, closest to the action.
Cons: The most expensive tier.
GegentribüneOberrang/Unterrang Ost
The opposite side stand facing the main stand.
Pros: Central side view for less than the Haupttribüne.
Cons: Faces the dugouts rather than housing them.
NordkurveNordkurve
The home standing terrace behind the goal, home to Schalke’s ultras and loudest support.
Pros: Huge, steep standing wall with the best atmosphere in the ground.
Cons: Standing only for domestic games and a behind-goal angle.
SüdkurveSüdkurve
The opposite end, mixed home support with the away allocation in a corner.
Pros: Cheaper behind-goal seats and terracing near the action.
Cons: Behind-goal sightline and proximity to visiting fans.
Best seats at Veltins-Arena
Best overall view
Haupttribüne upper, central
On the halfway line, covered and high enough to read the whole pitch.
Best value
Gegentribüne
A central side view for less than the main stand.
Best atmosphere
Nordkurve
Schalke’s standing terrace, the loudest and most colourful part of the arena.
With kids / calm
Upper Gegentribüne
Seated, full-pitch view away from the standing terrace.
Roof-closed spectacle
Anywhere central upper
With the roof shut and the video cube glowing, the enclosed bowl is a highlight in its own right.
| For | Sections | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall view | Haupttribüne upper, central | On the halfway line, covered and high enough to read the whole pitch. |
| Best value | Gegentribüne | A central side view for less than the main stand. |
| Best atmosphere | Nordkurve | Schalke’s standing terrace, the loudest and most colourful part of the arena. |
| With kids / calm | Upper Gegentribüne | Seated, full-pitch view away from the standing terrace. |
| Roof-closed spectacle | Anywhere central upper | With the roof shut and the video cube glowing, the enclosed bowl is a highlight in its own right. |
Seats to avoid & obstructed views
Back rows of the upper tiers: Highest and furthest seats feel a long way from the far goal in a big bowl.
Front of the lower behind-goal blocks: Low angle behind the net obscures far-end play.
Corner seats near the away segregation: Buffer zones and a quieter atmosphere on the visiting-fan boundary.
Standing terrace on a sold-out day: Crowd surges and limited legroom in the Nordkurve if you prefer a fixed seat.
Accessibility & companion seating
The modern arena provides generous wheelchair and companion positions with step-free access, lifts and accessible amenities, bookable in advance through Schalke’s ticket office. Assistance and accessible parking are available on request.
Where: Wheelchair spaces are distributed around the lower tier including central and behind-goal positions.
Food & drink at Veltins-Arena
The Veltins-Arena is one of Europe's benchmark grounds for stadium catering. Kiosks in every section serve bratwurst, Currywurst, fries, pretzels, pea soup and a growing range of vegetarian and vegan dishes, while Veltins pilsner is poured from the arena's famous five-kilometre beer pipeline, which feeds every catering point from tanks holding 52,000 litres in the basement. Hospitality menus include the Schalker Currywurst with jalapeño and beer-mustard sauce.
All arena kiosks are cashless: EC/debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted, along with the Knappenkarte via the S04 app; cash is not accepted at kiosks.
Worth seeking out
- Veltins beer poured via a five-kilometre beer pipeline
- Schalker Currywurst with jalapeño and beer-mustard sauce
- Bratwurst, fries and pretzels at concourse kiosks
- Pea soup and vegan dishes in every section
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The guide tells you where to sit — this is where you book it. Live-priced tickets and stays near the venue, all on Event Escapes.
Fixtures & tickets at Veltins-Arena
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Hotels near Veltins-Arena
All hotels & live prices
4-starWelcome Hotel Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen
See live prices
4-starHeiner's Parkhotel
Gelsenkirchen
See live pricesStays close to Veltins-Arena, with availability checked when we built this guide. Tap a hotel for live prices on your dates.
Getting there
Transport
Special matchday trams and buses run from Gelsenkirchen Hauptbahnhof to the Veltins-Arena stops, a short walk from the ground; tram lines 302 and matchday shuttles serve the arena directly. There is extensive on-site parking, but the tram from the Hauptbahnhof is the simplest option for visitors.
The area
The arena stands in the Erle/Schalke-Nord area on the northern edge of Gelsenkirchen, in a purpose-built sports park with training pitches and event space rather than a residential district. The surrounding Ruhr region is dense with football heritage.
Veltins-Arena · Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Parking near Veltins-Arena
The closest car parks to Veltins-Arena, each marked with a blue P on the map above. On event days public transport is usually quicker than driving.
- SFCV Club HeimBerni-Klodt-Weg 1, Gelsenkirchen255 m
- Parkplatz Veltins-ArenaBerni-Klodt-Weg 1, Gelsenkirchen267 m
- Parkplatz SFCVErle, Gelsenkirchen328 m
- Parkhaus 1Stan-Libuda-Weg 1, Gelsenkirchen370 m
- Schalke ParkplatzAdenauerallee 110, Gelsenkirchen-Ost385 m
- Veltins-Arena Parkplatz C1Adenauerallee 110/116, Gelsenkirchen-Ost407 m
Frequently asked questions
What is the capacity?
About 62,000 for Bundesliga matches including standing terraces, reducing to roughly 54,700 all-seated for international and European games.
Where do the ultras sit?
Schalke’s ultras and loudest fans pack the Nordkurve, a huge standing terrace behind one goal.
Are the seats covered?
Yes — the arena has a fully retractable roof, so with it closed every spectator is under cover.
Where do away fans sit?
Visiting supporters are given a segregated block, typically in a corner near the Südkurve.
What makes the arena special?
It has a retractable roof, a pitch that slides out of the stadium to rest and recover, and a famous beer pipeline feeding the concourses.
How do I get there?
Take a matchday tram or shuttle from Gelsenkirchen Hauptbahnhof to the Veltins-Arena stops, then a short walk to the ground.
Which seats are best for concerts at Veltins-Arena?
The retractable roof and slide-out pitch make it a top indoor concert and event venue; it has also hosted boxing, biathlon and the Champions League final.
How do section numbers work at Veltins-Arena?
Section numbers at Veltins-Arena follow the seating tiers. Haupttribüne: Oberrang/Unterrang West; Gegentribüne: Oberrang/Unterrang Ost; Nordkurve: Nordkurve; Südkurve: Südkurve.
Does Veltins-Arena have a seating map with seat numbers?
Yes. Veltins-Arena's seating map is split into numbered sections across its tiers (Haupttribüne Oberrang/Unterrang West; Gegentribüne Oberrang/Unterrang Ost; Nordkurve Nordkurve; Südkurve Südkurve), with individual seat numbers running within each section. Check the seating map on this page or the official chart for exact seat numbers.
What is the view like from the seats at Veltins-Arena?
The best views at Veltins-Arena are from Haupttribüne upper, central — On the halfway line, covered and high enough to read the whole pitch. The weakest are Back rows of the upper tiers: Highest and furthest seats feel a long way from the far goal in a big bowl. For a seat-by-seat view, see the view-from-seat photos and the seating map for Veltins-Arena.
Where should I sit at Veltins-Arena with kids?
For families at Veltins-Arena, Upper Gegentribüne works best — Seated, full-pitch view away from the standing terrace.
Where are the wheelchair-accessible seats at Veltins-Arena?
The modern arena provides generous wheelchair and companion positions with step-free access, lifts and accessible amenities, bookable in advance through Schalke’s ticket office. Assistance and accessible parking are available on request. Locations: Wheelchair spaces are distributed around the lower tier including central and behind-goal positions..
What are the stands at Veltins-Arena?
Veltins-Arena is made up of 4 main stands: Haupttribüne; Gegentribüne; Nordkurve; Südkurve.
What is the view like from the seats at Veltins-Arena?
For the best view at Veltins-Arena, aim for Haupttribüne upper, central (On the halfway line, covered and high enough to read the whole pitch.); Gegentribüne (A central side view for less than the main stand.). The view is most restricted from Back rows of the upper tiers (Highest and furthest seats feel a long way from the far goal in a big bowl.).
Where can I park at Veltins-Arena?
Car parks near Veltins-Arena include SFCV Club Heim, Parkplatz Veltins-Arena, Parkplatz SFCV, Parkhaus 1 and more. The closest is SFCV Club Heim, about 255 m from the venue. On event days public transport is usually quicker than driving, so check the transport options too.
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Hero image: Arne Müseler from Salzburg, AT, CC BY-SA 2.0 — via Wikimedia Commons