Will there soon be international club soccer at FC Schalke 04 again? The Royal Blues have offered a club the use of the arena.
FC Schalke 04 is playing against relegation in the 2nd Bundesliga. Nevertheless, the average attendance is more than 60,000, which is unique in Europe. Will visitors to the Veltins-Arena soon even be able to watch Champions League matches in their own stadium again? The last time that happened was in the 2018/19 season, when the Royal Blues made it to the round of 16 before falling to Manchester City.
Given the current sporting situation, a return to international business in the near future seems far from reality. Nevertheless, it is possible that Gelsenkirchen will see international soccer again next season.
S04 has offered Ukrainian champions Shakthar Donetsk the chance to play their Champions League or Europa League matches at the Schalke Arena next season. “FC Schalke 04 is currently offering Shakhtar Donetsk the opportunity to play their European or Champions League matches in the VELTINS Arena. This cooperation naturally also holds economic potential for the club,” the Royal Blues explain in their newsletter. The club is currently conducting a survey among its supporters in order to estimate the potential capacity utilization of the stadium for the matches.
“Our clubs have common roots in the tradition of mining and are characterized by a deep sense of history and camaraderie. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, we have been supporting initiatives and aid organizations that offer refugees in our city of Gelsenkirchen refuge and support,” Schalke promotes itself.
Due to the Russian war of aggression, the club from eastern Ukraine cannot play in Donetsk. Shakhtar therefore played in Warsaw in the 2022/23 season. In the current series, the home matches in the Champions League were played in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion.
And with great success. The match against FC Barcelona, for example, was watched by almost 50,000 spectators. HSV had already sold 28,000 spectator packages for all group matches before the games began.
This was also worthwhile for Hamburger SV. The club received a revenue share for providing the stadium and its services. Will the miners benefit in the coming season? There is a good chance that Donetsk will qualify for international football again. The club currently tops the table in the Ukrainian league.
Donetsk also know the Schalke Stadium from their own experience. Shakhtar last played at Schalke in the 2015/16 season and won 3:0 in the Europa League.