Schalke’s "Blue Wall" expansion?

Leading the 2. Bundesliga, FC Schalke 04 is attracting record crowds to the Veltins Arena, reminiscent of years past. The club's sporting revival has ignited a surge in ticket demand, prompting management to consider bringing the planned modernisation of Veltins Arena forward. Five of the seven home games so far at the Veltins Arena have sold out, with an average attendance of 62,077 fans. The match against SC Paderborn, which ended in a 2:1 victory, saw unprecedented interest with over 80,000 ticket requests. This overwhelming demand has led club officials to seriously consider ways to expand the stadium's capacity. According to Sport Bild, FC Schalke 04 is planning to renovate the north stand. The proposal involves converting small seated sections on either side into standing areas. This change would replace around 800 seats with approximately 2,000 standing spaces, increasing capacity by over 1,000 and with younger fans increasingly favoring standing sections, this change is makes both sporting and commercial sense.

The next aspect of the planned redevelopment is the away fans' section, which currently accommodates about 6,000 people. However, not every visiting team fills its quota. During the Paderborn match, parts remained empty despite over 4,000 away supporters. Schalke are considering flexible sector boundaries, allowing unused areas to be offered to home fans when demand from away teams is low. While this wouldn't officially increase capacity, it would optimize usage and lead to more full houses. Amidst the sporting and infrastructure plans, the club also announced a significant commercial decision – the extension of its partnership with Veltins brewery. The collaboration, ongoing since 1997, has been renewed for another decade until 2036, securing the brewery's exclusive naming rights and beer sales at the stadium. "The early renewal of the agreement underscores the enduring reliability of our partnership, deeply appreciated not just by Schalke fans", said Fabian Veltins, the brewery's marketing director. Schalke CEO Matthias Tillmann added "Discussions proceeded positively, marked by a shared desire to continue our journey together through this decisive step".