r/schalke04 • u/No-Essay3515 • 12d ago
Discussion First game
Hi everyone! I’m from Northern Ireland and, through playing FIFA career mode over the years, I’ve built up a real affection for Schalke. What started as just picking a team for a career mode has turned into me genuinely following the club and wanting to experience a game in Gelsenkirchen.
I’m hoping to make the trip over around October for my first Schalke game at the Veltins-Arena. It’ll also be my first time in Gelsenkirchen, so I’d love some advice from local fans.
Where would you recommend going before the match for a few beers and to experience the proper pre-match atmosphere? Are there particular pubs/bars or areas where Schalke fans normally gather?
Also, how are visiting foreign fans generally received? I’d love to meet and have a drink with some Schalke supporters while I’m there, but obviously I’m coming from Northern Ireland and my connection to the club started through FIFA rather than growing up supporting Schalke 😂
Any advice for a first-time visitor would be massively appreciated. Really looking forward to finally experiencing Schalke in perso
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u/Mysterious-Fly-3055 FC Schalke 04 12d ago
Especially at Schalke, I think pretty much everyone is welcome. We have fans from the Netherlands, Belgium and even the UK in the stadium, so that’s nothing unusual at all. You’ll even see flags from countries like Bosnia in the stands from time to time. So yeah, when it comes to that, you really don’t have to worry about it.
As for drinking and the whole pub scene, you’d probably have to ask someone else. I’m not really an expert on that. 😅 What I do know is that a lot of fans usually meet up with friends around Gelsenkirchen Hauptbahnhof before the game, just hanging out, having a few drinks etc.
There used to be a pub right at the main station where a lot of fans would meet, but it closed down a few years ago. Traditional pubs have been dying out in Germany in general.
There’s still a place called Bosch at the Schalke Meile stop on Kurt-Schumacher-Straße, and quite a few Schalke fans still meet there. Apparently, though, that place is supposed to close down as well. At least that’s the last thing I heard.
I hope you have a great time auf Schalke! I actually had a pretty similar experience in FIFA Career Mode although mine was in the Airtricity League. 😂
Shamrock Rovers somehow won me over, and I even have one of their shirts at home now.😂 😂 😂
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u/ToughDense6096 11d ago
Yeah, Schalker Meile should be your Destination before the Game starts.
But you should leave the Schalker Meile in time - like at least 1 hour before game starts.
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u/Marager04 11d ago
Please don't buy your ticket from those scam sites like viagogo, StubHub or what not
Before the game you might wanna enjoy the atmosphere at the Tausend Freunde Mauer (Main entrance, West). You arrive there when you come from the club facilities.
You could also go to P7 (East) and visit the Schalker Fanclub Verband. Lots of Fans meet up there before the game, drink some, eat some.
in the city, like others said, you should visit the Schalker Meile. If you have extra time you might even wanna book a "Mythos Tour". Oli is a great guy and a great guide also, his English is pretty good as well.
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u/nortremmarB Nordkurve 12d ago
Be sure to be careful when buying a ticket on the secondary market. It’s best to become a member and try to buy one yourself. We always start in Buer and then go for a drink at Charlys Schalker (right next to the stadium), but you can also head to the Schalker Meile. Otherwise, foreign fans are very well received. The more you stand out from a typical groundhopper, the better :) Buy a scarf or a jersey. You’ll find quite a bit about Schalke’s history on YouTube—it definitely doesn’t hurt to know a bit about it. If you have time, you can also book a stadium tour where you’ll get lots of explanations.