Veltins-Arena Seating Guide
Where to sit & the best seats
“Arena AufSchalke” · “Die Arena”
Where to sit at Veltins-Arena
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.
Nordkurve
Schalke’s standing terrace, the loudest and most colourful part of the arena.
Back rows of the upper tiers
Highest and furthest seats feel a long way from the far goal in a big bowl.
About 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.
Veltins-Arena in photos
3 outside · 2 inside the venue
Seating 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.
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
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.
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Hero image: Arne Müseler from Salzburg, AT, CC BY-SA 2.0 — via Wikimedia Commons