Since 2005, the home of FC Schalke 04 has been recognizable from afar. Around 19 years ago, the stadium name was installed on the roof: VELTINS-Arena. Since then, the 43-metre-wide lettering including the arena logo has shone in the Gelsenkirchen night sky during evening matches and events. The VELTINS-Arena now has to be neutralized for UEFA EURO 2024, which will see a total of four matches played at Schalke.
This means that all brand names will have to be removed or covered up after the last home game of the current season against Hansa Rostock on May 11. As there is no other option due to the upcoming set-ups for the AC/DC concerts on May 17 and 21, the VELTINS lettering will already be removed from the roof of the stadium today (Monday, April 29).
The seven letters measure around 16.5 meters in width and, at around 3.5 meters, are about as high as a truck. The lettering on the roof of the main entrance can be folded down and is therefore not dismantled with a crane.
The letters above the south curve were last removed from the arena roof for the 2006 World Cup. In 2016, the twelve letters and the approximately 8-metre-wide arena logo were fitted with energy-efficient LED lights.
The VELTINS lettering will now be removed, stored and cleaned. After the European Championship, it will be lifted back onto the roof and light the way into the Schalke fans' living rooms in new splendor.
