FC Schalke 04 is stepping up its support for the city in hosting UEFA EURO 2024 and is becoming a local sponsor of Host City Gelsenkirchen. The mission: to bring next summer's major footballing event closer to the people of the region in particular - and not just during the weeks of the actual tournament, but also beyond.
As a local sponsor, FC Schalke 04 can make a contribution beyond its role as landlord of the Arena auf Schalke by planning and implementing communication and marketing activities under the EURO 2024 logo. The club is the first local sponsor of Host City Gelsenkirchen and therefore has a special status. Activities already planned include a EURO School Cup for primary school pupils at Berger Feld, a joint cultural program and activities in the Fan Zone.
Gelsenkirchen lives and loves soccer
An undertaking that can succeed particularly well in a city like Gelsenkirchen, according to Peter Knäbel, CEO of FC Schalke 04: "Gelsenkirchen lives and loves soccer. We can see and experience this every other week in the Schalke Arena and also in the city. EURO 2024 has the chance to sweep the city off its feet again, as it last did in 2006. However, this will only work if we all pull together and make the tournament as colorful and diverse as possible as the host city. I am therefore particularly looking forward to working together with the city of Gelsenkirchen."
"Our deep and long-standing bond in this city is now once again clearly underlined by the official appointment of Schalke 04 as a local sponsor. I am therefore delighted that we are joining forces to not only make the matches in the arena an experience, but also to build anticipation for the European Championship in the coming months," said Gelsenkirchen's Mayor Karin Welge.
Further highlight planned
In addition to the European Men's Championship, the city and club are planning another international soccer highlight: the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027. The city of Gelsenkirchen and S04 have taken advantage of their "second chance" and successfully submitted their joint bid documents. Gelsenkirchen is therefore one of the 13 bidding cities from three countries - Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands - that could be awarded the World Cup in May 2024.
