FC Schalke 04 is not organizing a Christmas carol sing this year. However, S04 fans will not have to miss out on the festive atmosphere.

FC Schalke 04 has decided not to offer Christmas caroling with its fans this year. A strategic decision.

Or a vote with the feet. Or the throats. Because the recent decline in spectator numbers is likely to have played a role in the decision to forego the event. The demand was simply no longer there to the extent necessary for such a major event.

While almost 34,000 Schalke fans attended the event in the stadium before the coronavirus pandemic in 2019 to get in the mood for the Christian festival with songs and speeches, in 2022 there were only 16,000 Schalke fans who sang Christmas carols with pop star Olaf Henning, among others. It is therefore an understandable decision to at least take a break.

Although FC Schalke 04 will not be holding its Christmas carol singing in the Schalke Arena this year, the fans of the Royal Blues will not have to miss out on a communal Christmas experience in royal blue. Because the traditional Advent carol singing of the Supporters’ Club in the Glückauf-Kampfbahn will take place. And for the eighth time already. On the 3rd Advent, admission is from 4.30 p.m., then it starts at 6.04 p.m.

The stands of the “GAK” always provide an atmospheric and historic backdrop for more than 500 fans. The available tickets are usually all sold out.

The Advent Singing is organized by the Supporters Club together with Teutonia Schalke and the parish of St. Augustinus (Offene Kirche auf Schalke – St. Joseph). Tickets cost four euros. The net proceeds from ticket sales will again be donated to Gelsenkirchen institutions. There will be Christmas market stalls with beer and bratwurst, mulled wine and cookies

We have already sold around 500 tickets. Not much more is possible

Andreas Jour

“We’ve already sold around 500 tickets again. Not much more is possible. But remaining tickets can still be purchased on Friday at the Schalker-Meile-Treff and there before the home game against Greuther Fürth,” says Supportsclub chairman Andreas Jour. “If there are still tickets left, we may also offer tickets for purchase in the members’ corner in the stadium against Fürth.”

The Supporters Club’s Advent Singing has been taking place since 2014. Two years later, S04 also joined in with its event in the large stadium. Initially, there was even competition in terms of timing, as both events took place on the same day. The problem was later resolved and the singing was held on different days.

This time, however, the miners decided against such an event. By way of comparison, a completely different house number takes place a few kilometers away in Dortmund. BVB sold out its 70,000 tickets for its Christmas carol sing on 17.12.23 within a few days