Discover Cegeka Arena: The Genk Stadium 

Have you ever wondered what the “KRC” in KRC Genk stands for? Well, here’s the answer: it stands for Koninklijke Racing Club Genk, with Koninklijke roughly translating to “Royal.” Majestically, the club that emerged from the merger of two local clubs from Genk, Belgium, now plays its matches at the CegekA Arena, a multi-purpose venue in the Belgian city. This article will teach us a little more about this club’s history, especially its incredible home.  

Tabla de contenidos:

• Discover Cegeka Arena: The Genk Stadium
  • From A Merger Of Two Local Clubs To One Of The Best Clubs In Belgium
  • History and Structure Of Cegeka Arena
  • A Multifunctional Stadium
  • Tour Estadio
  • Fanshop
  • Genk Tickets
  • How To Get To The Stadium
  • Racing Genk Blau En Wit Army! (Racing Genk Blue And White Army!)
  • Your Chance To Create A Stadium Like Cegeka Arena

From A Merger Of Two Local Clubs To One Of The Best Clubs In Belgium

KRC Genk is one of the most important and successful clubs in Belgium. The club has been formed for less than 4 decades. However, its roots go back over a century of history. It was founded in 1988 by merging two local clubs: KFC Winterslag and Waterschei SV Thor. KFC Winterslag, founded in 1923, was known for its red and black colors and the nickname “Dirty Men.” It had a memorable campaign in the 1981/82 UEFA Cup, where it eliminated Arsenal before losing to Dundee United. On the other hand, Waterschei SV Thor, founded in 1919, represented a strong regional identity and won the Belgian Cup in 1980 and 1982, reaching the 1983 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals.

After the merger, the new club, KRC Genk, faced many challenges, including relegation in its first season. However, from 1996 onwards, the club began a remarkable rise under the leadership of Aimé Anthuenis, who won their first national title in 1999 and their first Belgian Cup in 1998. In the 2000s, Genk continued to excel, with another national title in 2002 and notable appearances in the UEFA Champions League, facing giants such as Real Madrid and AS Roma.

From 2010 onwards, Genk managed to position among the best Belgian clubs, winning another national title in 2011 under Frank Vercauteren. The club also enjoyed an impressive run in the Champions League, competing against Chelsea, Valencia, and Bayer Leverkusen. 

The club won its first Belgian championship ten years after its formation, and recently, in 2019, the club won its fourth. This success was due to the development of talented players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, who have gone on to become international stars. Genk has recently enjoyed success in Domestic League and Europa League competitions, including winning the Belgian Cup in 2021. 

History and Structure Of Cegeka Arena 

The football stadium, now known as the Cegeka Arena, didn’t always have this name. KRC Genk’s home ground is located on the same site as the André Dumont Stadium, home of the former Thor Waterschei club. In 1988, after Thor Waterschei and KFC Winterslag merged to form KRC Genk, the club initially played at the Noordlaan Stadium, Winterslag’s former stadium. However, after a new main stand was built, the André Dumont Stadium was returned to use two years after the merger.

When it reopened, the stadium was renamed the Thyl GheyselinckStadion in honor of a leader who, in addition to promoting the merger of the clubs, was also involved in the closure of the Limburg mines. This caused discontent among the fans, many of whom were former miners.

In the spring of 1999, when KRC Genk won its first national title, the stadium underwent renovation. The standing areas and large grandstands were replaced with more modern structures, and the stadium was renamed the Fenix ​​Stadion. The second renovation phase took place in 2001, with the rise of the club and the growing need for business space, and the South Stand, a replica of the North Stand, was built.

The following year, the South Stand was replaced with a modern structure with seats in the upper section and standing areas in the lower section, which could be converted into seating for European competitions, where standing areas are prohibited. This completely closed the stadium, which has become considered one of the most modern in Belgium.

In 2007 and 2012, the stadium underwent a complete renovation of the business area, further modernizing it. As a result, the stadium’s name was changed (for reasons of naming rights), and this time, it was Cristal Arena. In 2012, further renovations were carried out, including the construction of an indoor training hall and the introduction of an electronic access control system in accordance with UEFA criteria.

In 2016, following a new sponsorship deal, the stadium was renamed Luminus Arena, and on August 26, 2021, it was changed to Cegeka Arena in honor of the Belgian IT company Cegeka. The recent partnership with Cegeka aims to transform the stadium into a high-tech arena using innovative technologies, including 5G (the first one in Belgium). 

Today, the stadium has a total capacity of 23,718 seats, 252 of which are reserved for disabled fans, and 4,200 are standing places. 

For those seeking a more exclusive experience, the stadium offers 2,929 corporate seats, which include premium seats, boxes, and a grandstand. There are 17 boxes available, and the grandstand seats 92, providing a privileged viewing experience.

A Multifunctional Stadium

The arena is a multi-purpose stadium that goes above and beyond hosting football matches. In addition to being the home ground of KRC Genk, the stadium offers a range of facilities for corporate events, conferences, and private parties. With VIP areas, boxes, restaurants, and bars, the stadium is equipped to cater to a wide range of needs, from sporting events to social and cultural gatherings.

Tour Estadio

Ever wanted to see behind the scenes of KRC Genk Stadium? You can do so on a stadium tour at the Cegeka Arena. A guide will take you around the stadium. You can look at the lounges, boxes, press room, training pitch, and VIP areas. The tours are run in partnership with GoalMine, a museum located at the stadium, and take place on the first Saturday of every month, starting at 1:30 p.m., lasting a total of three hours, with one hour dedicated to the GoalMine interactive football museum and two hours to the stadium. No reservations are required, and the tour runs regardless of the number of participants.

Fanshop

If you’d like to buy team shirts, kits, gifts, and accessories, the stadium has a fan shop just for you! It’s at the reception doors and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to noon, 1 pm to 6 pm, and 2 hours before and 1 hour after home games.

Genk Tickets

Want to watch a game at the Cegeka Arena? 

You can buy your ticket at The Cegeka Arena Ticket Shop. It is located at the stadium’s main entrance and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 7 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to noon. On match days, the opening hours are until noon. You can also purchase them online through the Genk website. 

Ticket prices vary depending on the opponent, with two categories of games, A and B. Tickets for the standing sections with home fans cost €16/€19, while the best seats in the main stand cost €26/€29.

Please note that season ticket holders occupy most seats, especially in the Staantribune, which may limit ticket availability on match days. We recommend purchasing your ticket in advance to avoid missing out!

How To Get To The Stadium

Cegeka Arena is located on the northern edge of Genk, approximately 5.5 kilometers from the city center and main railway station.  It is very easy to get to but remember that if you decide to walk from the city centre, you will have to walk a bit. If you prefer other means of transport, here is some helpful information: 

• Bus: Take the G1 bus at Perron 1 toward Zwartberg from Genk station and get off at Nieuw Texas (25 minutes). Advance tickets cost €3 and can be bought at the station.
• Train: Genk station is 6.5 km from the stadium. Frequent direct trains connect Genk with Hasselt, the regional capital, directly connecting with Antwerp, Liege, and Brussels. The journey from Hasselt to Genk takes about 20 minutes. 
• En auto Located between the N76 and N75 roads, close to the A2, with clear signage. There is ample parking in front of the Arena, with rooms for about 500 cars.
• Taxi: From Genk station to the stadium costs about €20 (10 minutes).
• Plane: Maastricht Aachen Airport is 40 km from Genk. Special buses are available on match days in several regions, including Hasselt.

Racing Genk Blau En Wit Army! (Racing Genk Blue And White Army!)

A big team deserves a big house. And that’s what Genk has! More than a stadium, a revolution. A unique space in the country where the passion for football lives in harmony, the Cegeka Arena is an important stadium for Belgian football and home to one of the country’s most influential clubs. 

With its modern and versatile facilities, including VIP areas, boxes, restaurants, and bars, the stadium is prepared to host everything from major sporting events to corporate and social gatherings. Watching a football game in this vibrant and fantastic center is an experience every football fan in Brussels should have! 

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