Schalke's new tunnel looks like a coal mine

Schalke have always maintained strong ties to the local mining industry and this has produced some brilliant imagery in recent years. From mining themed team photos to the players actually going down into the mines, they've shown that "The Miners" is more than just a nickname for the club. And now they've taken that theme a step further by redesigning the Veltins-Arena tunnel that the players use to get from the dressing rooms to the pitch to look like a coal mine.

The result is a spooky, dimly lit enclosure that will remind the players of their club's working-class roots every time they walk through it. And visiting teams might find it a bit unsettling.

Here's what the tunnel looked like before the redesign...

A unique touch well executed.

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Brooks Peck

is the editor of Dirty Tackle on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him or follow on Twitter! Follow @BrooksDT