Glückauf-Kampfbahn

Today: 11,000

FC Schalke 04 DJK Teutonia Schalke-Nord

The Glückaufkampfbahn ( officially arena Gluckauf ) is a football stadium in Gelsenkirchen. It was built on the site of the former Zeche Consolidation in August 1927. The official opening ceremony took place on September 2, 1928. Until the construction of the stadium parking 1973, the arena served as the home ground of FC Schalke 04

On the opening day, there were several attractions, including a field handball match of the handball section of Gelsenkirchen against the Cologne club for lawn games, an athletic competition and a football game against Tennis Borussia Berlin, the Schalke 04 won 3-2. Previously there had been in the arena already on 25 August 1928 friendly match between Schalke against the reigning German champions SpVgg West Suelz 07.

Originally located in the middle of Schalke arena was planned as a pure general admission stadium, a few weeks before the opening, however, 1,200 additional seats were installed. This was unusual for a working men's club like Schalke, until well into the 1930 seat grandstands were a privilege of stages of bourgeois " Lackschuh clubs ". 1931 70,000 spectators flocked to the friendly match between FC Schalke 04 against Fortuna Dusseldorf - this number is still regarded as attendance record in games in the arena. As the stadium, however, was designed for only 34,000 followers, it was in 1936 extended to the 114 -meter-long grandstand, but still remained too small for the crowds.

After the war, the stadium, which had been almost completely destroyed by the end of 1944, was prepared again and remained in the subsequent period despite existing expansion plans except for minor structural measures unchanged; 1950 ticket booths were erected in 1956 was followed by a floodlight system. The last discharged in the arena Bundesliga match Schalke was a 2-0 win against Hamburger SV on the final day of the 1972 season / 73rd In the late 1980s the general admission ranks have been removed down to the now Grade II listed Grandstand, so that the stadium today now only holds around 11,000 spectators. By January 2006, the stadium was still used by the Schalke youth teams, today only plays DJK Teutonia Schalke-Nord here.

During the 2006 World Cup here in Gelsenkirchen Fan Fest was held. The stadium was 2006 Monument of the month in Westphalia -Lippe in June.