PARKSTADION was once one of the top football stadiums in the world – now it is unrecognisable.
Schalke occupied the 62,000-seater from 1973 until they moved out in 2001 for the glossy new Veltins Arena just across the rode.
During its heyday, the Parkstadion hosted five matches at the 1974 World Cup, including Yugoslavia’s record-breaking 9-0 thrashing of Zaire.
It was also used during the Euro 1988, won by Ruud Gullit’s Netherlands.
Away from football, it also welcomed music royalty with the likes of Michael Jackson and the Rolling Stones having played concerts there.
But as it began to age, Schalke deemed it necessary to move to a new state-of-the-art home.
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The 2000-01 campaign would be the German side’s last season at the 62,004 capacity venue, which held more than most Premier League grounds.
Only Tottenham and West Ham’s 62,000-seater grounds and Manchester United’s home of Old Trafford – which houses 75,000 – top it.
Schalke beat SpVgg Unterhaching 5-3 in a dramatic thriller to end their 28-year stay at Parkstadion.
Fans celebrated wildly as they thought it clinched them the title – only for a last-minute Bayern Munich equaliser elsewhere to snatch it away.
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As the ground was taken apart, the German club even gave its old jumbotron to a stadium in German town Aue.
Standing under a kilometre from the 62,271 capacity Veltins Arena, the remains of Parkstadion offers fans a reminder of what used to be.
Following Schalke’s departure, Parkstadion was partly demolished.
The old ground still has one of its stands open – featuring benches rather than individual seats.
A pitch still remains in the same spot, with Schalke using it occasionally.
They played there as recently as last year, when they beat VVV-Venlo in a friendly in front of just 1,113 people.
In exhibition matches against SC Verl and SV Meppen during the summer of 2022 they were cheered on by 2,999 fans.
Behind one of the goals now stands a hotel, where fans can stay on matchdays over at Veltins.
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Schalke now play their football at the Veltins Arena, which cost £160MILLION in construction.
It also fits over 62,000 and hosted England’s 1-0 Euro 2024 opening win against Serbia.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
