Another sporting event celebrates its premiere at Schalke - the final of the European League of Football. With this highlight, the VELTINS-Arena is continuing a past tradition: 20 years ago, Düsseldorf Rhein Fire regularly hosted a football team in Gelsenkirchen. In 2004, the Schalke stadium was also the venue for World Bowl XII. The European League of Football is a European league in American football. It was founded in November 2020 and started its first season on June 19, 2021. In the current season, the league comprises 16 teams from nine nations.
While the teams are currently fighting for a place in the play-offs for the 2023 season, the European League of Football officials have already finalized the next final: the 2024 Championship Game will take place on 22 September in the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen. After Düsseldorf (2021), Klagenfurt am Wörthersee/Austria (2022) and Duisburg (2023), the most important and biggest game in European football will be played in the 62,271-capacity stadium of FC Schalke 04.
"With this decision, we are setting another milestone in the development of our league. The VELTINS-Arena is one of the most beautiful and attractive multifunctional arenas in Europe and we are proud to be able to present the Championship Game of the 2024 season to football fans in this great setting. For more than two decades, the VELTINS-Arena has established itself as a stage for outstanding events in sports and show business," says Zeljko Karajica, Managing Director of the European League of Football.
"Whether soccer, biathlon, concerts or motorsport - the VELTINS-Arena impressively demonstrates its unique atmosphere time and time again. More than 30 million visitors have already experienced this at completely different events. We are delighted to be hosting the 2024 European League of Football final and look forward to welcoming fans from all over the world to Gelsenkirchen," says Christina Rühl-Hamers, member of the S04 Executive Board, looking ahead.
"The VELTINS-Arena guarantees an outstanding atmosphere and when I think that our Championship Game 2024 will be played at Schalke, I already get goosebumps. And that's how it will be for everyone who can actively participate on the pitch or in the stands. The region is one of the football strongholds in Germany and it is outstanding that we will be playing the final in the heart of the Ruhr area," emphasizes Patrick Esume, Commissioner of the European League of Football.
The "Champions League" of European football is currently in its third season. This year's final will take place in Duisburg on September 24, 2023.
Tickets for the final on September 22, 2024 in the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen are now available at ticketmaster.de.
