The home ground of Bundesliga soccer club FC Schalke 04 regularly attracts around 63,000 spectators. But the VELTINS-Arena not only enjoys a particularly good reputation nationally as a venue for Bundesliga, European Cup and international matches. "The world has never seen a stadium like this," enthused FIFA President Joseph Blatter at the opening ceremony.

The arena consistently sets new standards, and not just in terms of its multifunctionality. State-of-the-art stage and sound technology, the huge video cube, the retractable pitch, movable stands, the lockable roof and the chip technology-based payment method of the Knappenkarte are just some of the technical highlights that make the arena a true masterpiece.

Baptisms, weddings, funerals or ecumenical services: The chapel in the VELTINS-Arena is more than just a place of peace and reflection. Well over 2000 children have been baptized here, 1000 weddings and anniversaries have been celebrated, the deceased have been remembered, prayers have been said for victims of disasters and lights have been lit.

It was the first chapel of its kind in Germany and was inaugurated on August 12, 2001. Artist Alexander Jokisch designed it as an extension of the center line on the pitch. The chapel is intended to provide a counterpoint to the noisy stadium. It sees itself as a place for people's lives and questions. It is an ecumenical meeting place across denominations. The chapel at Schalke is a sheltered space of peace, joy, prayer and pastoral care in the heart of the arena.

The work in the chapel is accompanied by the Protestant pastor Ernst-Martin Barth (phone 0209|72723 or mobile 0170|6283714) and the Catholic chaplain Markus Nowag (mobile 0151|43105681 or by e-mail to markus.nowag@bistum-essen.de.

The dates for inquiries depend on the schedule of the VELTINS-Arena.