Parkstadion
Photo: Mocky04 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Capacity
- 62,008
- Year opened
- 1973
- Club
- —
- Country
- Germany
Overview
About the stadium
Parkstadion was a multi-purpose stadium in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, built in 1973 with a capacity of 62,008 seats. It served as the home ground of the football club FC Schalke 04 until May 2001. Today the venue is partly demolished and no longer hosts any major events.
Location and surroundings
The stadium stood in Gelsenkirchen, in the industrial Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. Immediately adjacent to it rose the newer Arena AufSchalke, which replaced it in 2001 as the home of FC Schalke 04. The site thus formed part of the sporting infrastructure of one of the traditional heartlands of German football.
Main uses
It was originally a multi-purpose stadium used mainly for football, but also for major concerts. It hosted five matches of the 1974 FIFA World Cup and two fixtures of UEFA Euro 1988. Today the venue hosts no major events and is partly demolished; the Jumbotron from its former northern stand was donated to the Erzgebirgsstadion in Aue.
History
Journey through time
Parkstadion was for nearly three decades one of the principal football venues of the Ruhr and the home of FC Schalke 04. Its history runs from construction in the early 1970s, through major international tournaments, to a gradual decline that culminated in the opening of the neighbouring arena and partial demolition.
Construction and opening
The stadium was built in 1973 with a capacity of 62,008 seats. The very next year it became one of the venues of the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where it hosted five matches. It was here that Yugoslavia set the record for the biggest win in World Cup history, defeating Zaire 9–0.
Major renovations
The key turning point came in 2001, when the newer Arena AufSchalke opened nearby and took over as the home ground of FC Schalke 04. The stadium then ceased to host major events and was partly demolished. The Jumbotron from its former northern stand was donated to the Erzgebirgsstadion in Aue, where it was installed during renovations in 2004.
Notable moments
The stadium hosted two fixtures of UEFA Euro 1988 and the first leg of the 1997 UEFA Cup final between Schalke and Internazionale. The last competitive match was played on 19 May 2001, when Schalke beat SpVgg Unterhaching 5–3 before roughly 65,000 fans; the title was ultimately retained by Bayern Munich thanks to a last-minute goal.
Atmosphere
Matchday
The atmosphere at Parkstadion was shaped for decades by the passionate supporters of FC Schalke 04, one of the traditional pillars of German football. Alongside football nights, the stadium also became a sought-after concert stage that hosted a string of global stars.
Fan culture
The stadium was the heart of the fan passion of FC Schalke 04 in the mining country of the Ruhr. Beyond football, it hosted major concerts: Michael Jackson performed here in 1988 and 1997, The Rolling Stones in 1990 and 1998, and Pink Floyd in 1994. These events made it one of the leading concert venues in the region.
Big matches
The stadium hosted five matches of the 1974 FIFA World Cup and two fixtures of UEFA Euro 1988 (West Germany against Denmark, and the Netherlands against the Republic of Ireland). It also staged the first leg of the 1997 UEFA Cup final. Its emotional finale was the last match on 19 May 2001, in which Schalke beat SpVgg Unterhaching 5–3 yet ultimately lost the title to a Bayern equaliser in stoppage time of another game.
Practical info
Visiting the stadium
Parkstadion in Gelsenkirchen, with a former capacity of 62,008 seats, was for decades the home of FC Schalke 04, but today it is partly demolished and hosts no major events. Its role was taken over by the neighbouring Arena AufSchalke, which opened in 2001.
How to get there
The stadium stood in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, next to the newer Arena AufSchalke. Because the venue is partly demolished and no longer holds events, it is not a destination for ordinary visits today; the activity of FC Schalke 04 has moved to the adjacent arena.
Tickets and tours
Since Parkstadion no longer hosts competitive matches or concerts, no regular tickets are sold for it. Football activity and supporter visits now center on the neighbouring Arena AufSchalke, where FC Schalke 04 relocated in 2001.
Visitor tips
- Venue status: partly demolished, no major events.
- Where to go instead: the neighbouring Arena AufSchalke, the new home of FC Schalke 04.
- Historical importance: a venue of the 1974 World Cup and Euro 1988.
- Fun fact: the screen from the northern stand was moved to Aue.
Map
Where to find the stadium
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Gelsenkirchen, Germany
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