GelreDome (Arnhem)

The GelreDome is a football stadium in the city of Arnhem, Netherlands. It is one of the largest and modern stadiums in the country, built from 1996 to 1998 at a cost equivalent to €75 million that opened on 25 March 1998. The stadium is the home of the association football club Vitesse Arnhem since 1998. It was one of the stadiums used during Euro 2000 tournament held in the Netherlands and Belgium.

General information

Official website: https://gelredome.nl

Arena capacity: 21,248 (maximum 25,500 without tarps)

Address: Batavierenweg 25, 6841 HN Arnhem, Netherlands

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 51°57′46.38″N 5°53′34.13″E

Year of construction: 1996-1998

Construction cost: €75 million

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 68 m (74.4 Yards) x 105 m (114.8 Yards)

Seating plan of GelreDome

GelreDome Stadion is comprised of four stands: North, East, South and West.

1. North Stand — Shared by both home and away supporters, the northern goal-end is split in an approximate ratio of 75:25. Each section of the GelreDome is surprisingly deep so to speak.
2. East Stand — The east stand is identical proportions to both of the goal-ends albeit runs for the length of the pitch rather than the width. There are a few support beams towards the back which can intrude upon the views when the stadium is full, otherwise it’s not really a problem as you can move seats providing its not full.
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3. South Stand — This is where some of the more hardcore elements of Vitesse’ support tend to congregate during the match. When it is full it’s almost like a mini Westfalenstadion, with the club’s yellow and black colours providing a fearsome backdrop to the football on the pitch.
4. West Stand — The main stand of Gelredome this is where important matchday facilities such as the changing rooms, dugouts, and players’ tunnel are located. It deviates slightly from the form of the other stands by incorporating two rows of hospitality boxes at the back, however it is very much in keeping with the spirit of the rest of the ground’s old school feel.
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Away fans

Away fans are usually housed within the eastern side of the northern goal-end which takes up around 25% of the entire stand. Separated from the home supporters by the metal fencing on one side, and one of the roof’s pillars on the other, fans can gain access to their seats through Gate Q.

When choosing a place in the stadium, use the GelreDome scheme above.

Where to buy tickets?

Tickets for Vitesse games can be bought online, or at the Vitesse club shop at the stadium.

Vitesse require possession of a Vitesse Fancard to be able to buy tickets for some matches. Most matches go on general sale though.

If tickets remain available, and Vitesse hardly ever sell out a match, these can also be bought on the day of the match at the stadium. However, the same Fancard requirement may apply.

Tickets to see Vitesse in action usually go on sale online anywhere between 3-4 weeks in advance of the match. Any unsold tickets are then available to purchase on the day of the match from the stadium from 10.00 am onwards.

Adult Ticket Prices:

• West-Tribune (Purple): €37.50;
• West-Tribune (Orange): €45.00;
• Theo Bos Tribune (Yellow): €18.00;
• Oost-Tribune (Blue): €30.00;
• Oost-Tribune (Red): €25.00;
• Noord-Tribune (Green): €18.00.

For Category A matches which are against high-profile opposition please add on an additional €5.00 surcharge onto the price.

How to get there?

The GelreDome is located toward the south of the city of Arnhem on the south bank of the river Rhine at about 2.5 kilometres from Arnhem’s city centre and the central rail station.

On matchdays, shuttle buses run between Arnhem’s railway station and the stadium. The journey takes no more than 5 minutes.

On non-matchdays, take bus 7 from Arnhem central rail station. The bus leaves about every 10 minutes for the 7-minute ride to the stadium. Take the bus in the direction of Rijkerswoerd. Get off at stop GelreDome.

Arnhem railway station is centrally located and is well connected to the rest of the Netherlands and Europe with direct services to Utrecht, Amsterdam, Cologne and Frankurt.

Car Parks

Gelredome is capable of accommodating up to 4,000 vehicles per match, however for some matches it appears that you may have to book your parking ticket in advance. Always double check with the official GelreDome website.

Where to eat?

The GelreDome is located in a quiet residential area with little around in terms of eating and drinking, which means you can better do this in the nearby and rather pleasant city centre of Arnhem.

A meeting, reception, seminar, breakfast session or workshop becomes a complete new experience in GelreDome thanks to the right catering. GelreDome offers various meeting arrangements but it is possible to make variations thereto. The culinary interpretation is organised by Buitenpoort Catering.

Buitenpoort Catering has been exclusive VIP & Business caterer since July 2015 and stands for quality, flexibility and honest local products. Be surprised by the many possibilities that they can offer you. Apart from GelreDome, Buitenpoort also has a number of own locations where they provide the culinary interpretation. For more inspiration visit www.buitenpoort.nl

There are neither any hotels near the GelreDome, but a few options in Arnhem’s city centre. Of course, you can also stay in the west of The Netherlands and catch a train back after the match.

Facilities

Sirius room

Ambient room of almost 400 m2 with view on the stands and Dome floor at the 3rd floor, easily accessible via the escalator or lift. The Sirius room is standard furnished with a cosy bar, lounge sofas and various high and low seats. Thanks to the present LED lighting, we can easily adapt this room to the colours of your own corporate identity. The Sirius room is very suitable as reception, lunch, drinks or party room for 50-300 people.

Mercurius room

The Mercurius room is 325 m2 and located at the 3rd floor next to the Sirius room. From this room you also have a view on the stands and the Dome floor. This room has a beamer, projection screen and sound installation. In theatre setup there is room for maximum 300 people and 150 people in cabaret setup. You can use the room separately or together with the Sirius room as dinner, drinks or party room for maximum 300 people.

Orion room

Next to the Sirius on the third floor is a smaller room of 200 m2. The Orion room has a cosy interior in orange shades and has a pleasant bar. Apart from being a meeting or presentation room, this room is also very suitable for informal meetings.

In theatre setup, the capacity is maximum 130 people and maximum 40 in a U-shape setup. The room has a beamer, screen and sound set and can be fully darkened.

Gemini room

Next to the Mercurius room on the third floor is a smaller room of 200 m2. The Gemini room has a sporty look in a fresh green shade with a cosy bar. Apart from being a meeting or presentation room, this room is also very suitable for informal meetings.

In theatre setup, the capacity is maximum 130 people and maximum 40 in a U-shape setup. The room has a beamer, screen and sound set and can be fully darkened.

Stand

Do you have more than 300 visitors to whom you want to plenary speak or show something? Then use a part of the stand of GelreDome. When the roof is closed, a black box is created in the Dome which will make your presentation look great. Create a private atmosphere by using light while you only use a part of the stand. Upscaling to about 3,000 people is therefore reasonably simple.

Heaven (I & II)

The Heaven is a lounge on the fourth floor with a lovely view on the village of Elden. This lounge is ultimately suitable for ambient receptions and intimate dinners. The Heaven can be used as one open space but can also be divided in two by means of a sliding wall. In total the Heaven offers room to groups up to 160 people.

Heaven I has a cosy bar but can also be used as additional sub-room for larger conferences. In theatre setup, this room has a capacity of maximum 50 people. For drinks or a party, this room can be used for groups of 30 to 70 people.

Heaven II has a beamer, projection screen and sound set. In theatre setup, there is room for maximum 70 people.

Loge

GelreDome has on the fourth and fifth floor 49 lodges in total. A number of these lodges can be rented for meetings, presentations or drinks in a private atmosphere. The lodges have a different look and interior and are perfect for groups up to 15 people.

Promenade

On the second floor, GelreDome has a 60-metre long promenade around the entire stadium. The promenade can be fully heated and is available for all kinds of activities, such as product presentations, trade fairs, markets, dinner buffets and festive events. It is also possible to book a part of the promenade.

History

On March 25, 1998, the GelreDome football stadium was built and the arena was suited for football games, concerts, shows, and other events. It made history for being the first stadium in the world with a retractable pitch that can be retracted when it is not used during some events. Just like the Amsterdam Arena, it also has a sliding roof.

Finally in 1996, with the approaching Euro 2000 championship in mind, the construction of the stadium finally began. Two years later, the stadium opened with a match between home club Vitesse and NAC Breda.

In 2008, the stadium acted as the venue for the UEFA Champions League game between FC Twente and Arsenal. GelreDome was loaned to Twente due to the expansion project of the team’s home stadium, De GrolschVeste. This is the second UEFA Champions league game that was held in the stadium. Following this, more Champions League game were held in Gelredome, and one of them is another FC Twente game against FC Vaslui during the first leg of their third qualifying round.

Although the stadium was one of the venues of the Euro 2000 and is considered as one of the most modern and largest stadiums in the Netherlands, it was not selected as a venue for the joint Netherlands and Belgium bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup because it failed to meet the requirements of FIFA to have a minimum seating capacity of 44,000.

The GelreDome in Arnhem remains one of the major concert venues in the country and is widely known for its climate control system, a roof that lets no sunshine in, and sound quality.