One thing is clear: at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ nothing will happen without a valid match ticket. To ensure tickets are used and distributed correctly on matchdays, two central contact points - an accreditation centre and a ticket centre - will have to be created.

Accreditation is an important organisational element of any football match, particularly so at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. It regulates access to the match venue, ensures officials, media workers and local staff have the proper identification, provides a basis for police security checks and helps to make the event run smoothly and safely.

Two stadium accreditation centres (SACs) will be required, a large one designed to cater for around 13,000 to 18,000 people and a smaller one for approx. 5,000 to 8,000. Accreditation teams will take up occupation at the SACs twenty days before the first game is staged at the stadium, with the centres opening for the issuing of identification three to four days before the outer security ring closes. A total of 52 volunteers and four full-time staff will be deployed.

Another important facility is the Venue Ticket Process Centre (VTPC). The VTPC is the official contact and information point for all ticketing matters at the stadium. One important organisational feature is that visitors must be able to access the VTPC without difficulty even if they are not in possession of a ticket, which is why it should be located outside the outer security ring. Any remaining tickets, where available, will go on sale here. In addition, tickets that have been reserved or paid for will be printed out at print on demand stations and vouchers will be exchanged for tickets. In the event of any ticketing problems arising, this is where they will be clarified. The twelve VTPC members of staff will make sure of that.

On matchdays the SACs and VTPCs will generally be open from nine o'clock in the morning until the beginning of the second half.

To fulfil all the requirements at the arena, the two contact points look set to be located under one roof. As the requirements for both centres are largely identical, this configuration would offer a number of synergy effects. The gymnasium in the vicinity of the former Parkstadion, which is no more than 500 metres from the entrance to the arenaVeltins, would be a suitable location.