Champions League return: Shakhtar Donetsk plays in Gelsenkirchen!

Champions League return: Shakhtar Donetsk plays in Gelsenkirchen!

In Gelsenkirchen, Champions League football returns to the stadium. After a long absence of over five years, the Veltins-Arena is now the scene of international games again. Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukrainian Association, has decided to play his home games in the premier class on German soil and thus ensures excitement among football fans.

The last Champions League duels took place on Schalke in 2019 when FC Schalke 04 competed in a gripping match against Manchester City. The atmosphere in the stadium is now ready to be revived by the passion of the fans when Shakhtar Donetsk plays its first games in this prestigious series of competition.

ticket information for the return of the Champions League

Tickets are already available for interested fans via the online shop. There are different price categories: the cheapest standing room in the north curve are available from around 26 euros. However, fans have to pay up to 77 euros per game for the more comfortable seats in the lower area of the main grandstand. A particularly motivating detail: With the discount code "CL-Donetsk", buyers can secure an additional discount of 10 percent.

From August 29, it is also possible to purchase tickets for the individual parts after the draw on the same day set the opponents of the Ukrainians. Fans can thus secure their places in the cheering crowd to be there live when the teams fight for their way into the knockout round.

The dynamic price system and its meaning

It is striking that the ticket offer of Shakhtar Donetsk is pursuing a dynamic price system. This means that the less the number of places available can increase. A clever move by the club to control the demand and ensure that the tickets sell well.

According to the reform of the Champions League structure, the teams are no longer divided into groups, but compete against each other in a league, which makes the games even more exciting. This season 2024/25 a total of at least four games will be held in the Veltins Arena, which is a real highlight for all football enthusiasts.

The games start in the week from September 17th to 19th and continue in October and November. The top eight teams in the table qualify directly for the round of 16, while the other teams from ranks 9 to 24 fight for the remaining places in the round of 16 in a play-off round. A descent to the Euro League is still not planned.

for Aleksandr Kolarov, the captain of Shakhtar Donetsk, the move to Gelsenkirchen is not only a significant event for the association, but also an honor to play in the heart of Europe. "We look forward to playing in this exciting phase of the competition and enjoying the support of the German fans," he says in a current message. The return of important games on Schalke could help bring the international football community closer together and revive the sport.

The decision to choose Gelsenkirchen as the venue speaks for the continuing efforts of Shakhtar Donetsk to play football in Ukraine despite the challenging Situation. It also shows that the ghost gathering in football is over and the stadiums are filled with life again.

The return of the Champions League games on Schalke is an important event for FC Schalke 04 and the fans. The Veltins-Arena, known for its impressive atmosphere, previously housed numerous top-class encounters in this prestigious competition. In the 2024/25 season, fans can not only experience the Ukrainians games, but also enjoy the return of top international football on Schalke.

The influence of geopolitics on Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk, traditionally one of the strongest clubs in Ukraine, has had to overcome major challenges in recent years due to the continuing conflict in the region. The club has not played in its hometown of Donetsk since the military disputes in 2014. Instead, the team has their home games in LWIW and Kyiv. These circumstances have strongly influenced not only the club, but also the soccer -loving society in Ukraine.

The decision to carry out games in the Veltins-Arena is also seen as a way to promote international football and the awareness of Ukrainian football, while at the same time attention is drawn to the difficulties with which the club and the people in the region are confronted. This dynamic creates a special connection between fans in Germany and Ukraine, especially in times of political and social challenges.

Current number of spectators and ticket sales statistics

Last season (2023/24), the Veltins-Arena welcomed an average of around 50,000 spectators per home game in the Bundesliga. This high number of spectators shows the great support and commitment of the fans for their team. In view of the regenerated interest in Champions League football, the ticket sales boom for the games of Shakhtar Donetsk could even exceed the capacity of the arena.

Current ticket quality analyzes have shown that dynamic price systems, such as those introduced for the upcoming Champions League games on Schalke, increase sales efficiency, since they enable the clubs to be better controlled and at the same time maximize the income. This type of system has gained popularity worldwide and could also change the way fans buy tickets for large events.