Watch the goals fly in at the heart of football in Gelsenkirchen. Experience the stadium atmosphere - despite being without a ticket. And celebrate with fans from across the globe in a sea of flags and banners. During the World Cup Gelsenkirchen will be breathing new life into the Glückauf-Kampfbahn, the ground where various youth teams and the Schalke reserves currently train and fight for league points. From June 8 onwards, fans from all over the world will converge on the Glückauf-Kampfbahn. Because this is where the host city of Gelsenkirchen will be staging the FIFA 2006 World CupTM Fan Fest.
New life …
Every World Cup game will be shown live on a sixty square metre videowall. Just like at a rock concert, fans will be able to party together in the stadium interior, on the 'holy turf' so to speak. When the football stops, the action will continue on stage, with a programme of entertainment on offer to international guests even on non-matchdays. The organisers will definitely match the players on the pitch in terms of ambition. As well as a day and evening programme of entertainment, the infrastructure offers everything a fan fest could need. Alongside the stadium there are two additional sports pitches where you can enjoy a half-time refreshment. WC and medical services will also be provided.
... at this traditional stadium
For many Gelsenkircheners the Glückauf-Kampfbahn is more than just a football ground. It is where the Royal Blues ran rings round the opposition in the 1930s and 1940s with their unique brand of passing football. Schalke brought the German championship trophy back to Gelsenkirchen six times during this period. The atmosphere inside the stadium was the stuff of legends, and often the crowd would push right up to the touchline. At the legendary match against Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1931, some 70,000 people crammed around the pitch, and some even climbed up nearby trees to get a better view.
How to get there
As many as 22,000 fans will be able to support their teams at the Glückauf-Kampfbahn during the World Cup. To ensure the Fan Fest will also be a hit with the local residents, all visitors are kindly requested to travel to the ground using public transport. Because when this venerable cult stadium was built in the 1920s, car parks were not considered standard features. The Glückauf-Kampfbahn is, however, in the thick of things, being situated at the heart of the district of Schalke. If you do prefer to come by car, you can head for one of the Park & Ride car parks selected for the World Cup and then use the shuttle bus service or take the tram (Line 302, get off at Ernst-Kuzorra-Platz).
Further information on the Glückauf-Kampfbahn can be found on www.schalke04.de and in the Media -> Downloads section.
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Gelsenkirchen
FIFA Fan Fest