ELF Stadium – CG24 – Veltins Arena

The Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen is normally the home stadium of Schalke 04 (Rundball). The arena with a possible 62k spectators is very impressive. The backdrop alone is enough to give you goosebumps. Definitely a milestone for a final in the ELF. What was a bit of a shame (for me / for us) was the extremely long walk and the really enormous number of steps that we had to manage with our heavy photo case. We also wanted to see the power party, at least briefly. It was actually quite cool. Both the show acts and the stands were very diverse. Of course, without the Bundeswehr with its fantastic bouncy castle, there would have been something missing for children, but they were there. And our escort clearly had fun. The way through the tunnel into the interior was breathtaking. The mining-style tunnel was a real feast for the eyes. It’s a shame that not every spectator can see/experience it. You enter the stadium through the tunnel underneath the pitch. There is a kind of large trench around the entire pitch, where technicians, staff, media etc. had their set-ups. This has the funny effect that you only hear the noises before you come up the stairs onto the pitch. It’s amazing. All in all, a fantastic experience.