Already in the 2024/25 season, the Ukrainian football champion Schachtar Donetsk played his home games in the Champions League in the Veltins Arena. FC Schalke 04 was able to look forward to increased additional revenue of up to two million euros. The talks about continuing the cooperation in the coming year have apparently been advanced.
“We are very satisfied with Gelsenkirchen,” Managing Director Serhij Palkin told the Sport Information Service (SID): “I think we will stay here.” The Ukrainian top club and FC Schalke 04 are currently still in the negotiations. In a “a few weeks” Palkin expects a decision, but at the same time emphasized that one was “close” to an agreement.
Already this season there were four Champions League games in the home venue of FC Schalke 04. The games were mostly held in front of a moderate backdrop. On average, almost 28,000 spectators watched on site in the Veltins Arena, whereby the third “home game” by Schachtar Donetsk against FC Bayern with over 57,000 spectators lifted this average.
FC Schalke 04 wave renewed millions of income
According to “WAZ”, the rental of the stadium gave the royal blue around two million euros. For the financially stricken traditional club, who are welcome to see in the coming season.
However, it is not yet certain that Schachtar Donetsk will also be represented in the premier class in the coming season. In the Ukrainian league that started again at the end of February, Schachtar took third place. The third championship in a row would be a prerequisite for another participation in the Champions League.
Dynamo Kyiv currently leads the table with ten points. If the reigning master is only enough for participating in the Europa League or Conference League, the club also plans to play its international “home games” on Schalke.