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rewirpowerStadion  
In this stadium, formerly called the Ruhrstadion, VfL Bochum fights for promotion or against relegation depending on the state of play.
This little jewel box of a stadium holds 31,328 spectators.

No seat is further than 30 m from the action because of the closeness of the stand to the pitch – and Bochum’s vociferous fans create a terrific atmosphere.

›› Bochum-Innenstadt, Castroper Str. 145, Tel. 0 234/­95 18 48,
›› www.vfl-bochum.de

Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena  
The “Zebras’’ from MSV Duisburg have played their home games in this spruce and highly modern all-purpose area since the 2005/6 season.

Large-scale events take place in the 31,500-seat arena when MSV are not fighting for promotion to Germany’s top soccer division.

›› Duisburg-Hochemmerich, Berta Str. 2-4, Tel. 0 203/­93 10 0
›› www.schauinslandreisenarena.de

Signal Iduna Park  
This stadium, formerly called Westfalenstadion, is Borussia Dortmund’s home and is the Ruhr’s soccer hot-spot.

With 80,720 seated and standing places, which are nearly always sold out for home games, the stadium is Germany’s biggest.

It’s also one of Europe’s most modern all-purpose arenas with an in-house theater, a TV studio owned by the club, a museum and a cinema, as well as a food and events area with capacity for 1,600 guests integrated into the north stand.

The south stand holds 24,000 spectators and is better known to home fans and opponents as the “Yellow Wall’’ after the club’s colors.
It also holds the record as Europe’s biggest standing terrace.

›› Dortmund-Mitte, Strobelallee 50,
›› www.signal-iduna-park.de

Veltins-Arena   
You can admire the mother of all multi-purpose stadiums in Gelsenkirchen.
There’s far more than just soccer on offer in FC Schalke 04’s home ground, which holds 61,673 spectators.

There’s something for everyone at Schalke whether it’s opera, rock concerts, biathlons, boxing matches, ice hockey or, of course, noisy soccer celebrations.
It’s all made possible by a transparent sliding roof, a retractable grass pitch, movable stands and the most modern stage and sound technology.

With so much high-tech, even the UEFA European soccer federation was so impressed that it quickly placed this soccer temple in its highest ‘five star’ category.

›› Gelsenkirchen, Ernst-Kuzorra-Weg 1, Tel. 0 209/36 18 0
›› www.veltins-arena.de

Niederrhein-Stadion  
›› 46149 Oberhausen, Lindnerstr. 2-6, Tel. 02 08/97 09 70
›› www.rwo-online.de

Georg Melches Stadion  
›› 45356 Essen, Hafenstr. 97a, Tel. 02 01/86 14 40
›› www.stadion-essen.de