Club Profile
Borussia Dortmund
While it’s safe to call Dortmund “Germany’s second team,” after the almighty Bayern Munich, for many groundhoppers it’s a more appealing destination. And that is simply because of the atmosphere. The Black and Yellows play in Germany’s largest stadium (81,000 seats) and Europe’s second-largest club stadium, and they have the world’s highest average attendance (80,000+). Most famous of all is their 24,000-seat South Stand, known as the “Yellow Wall.” Combine all this with what is generally a youthful, attack-minded side, and seeing a game at Dortmund is high on many groundhopping to-do lists.
LOCATION: Dortmund, Westphalia, Germany
WEBSITE: BVB
NICKNAMES: Die Borussen, Die Schwarzgelben (The Black and Yellows), Der BVB (The BVB)
History
Founded in 1909, the club played in regional leagues under slightly different names until 1949, when they became Ballspiel-Verein (Sports Club) Borussia. This explains the BVB in the club crest. As for the word Borussia, it comes from an old Latin word for Prussia, a kingdom which included pieces of today’s Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Russia….
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Borussia Dortmund, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Rivalries
The local, Ruhr region rivalry is with Schalke 04, a matchup known as the Revierderby — revier being a simplified word referring to the area’s mining heritage. They have played over 180 matches since 1925 with Schalke having a few more wins than Dortmund, though in recent years the record has favored the…
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Borussia Dortmund, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Women's Team
BVB finally added a professional women’s team for the 2021-22 season. As such, they start out in the lower tiers of the German football league system. They won their league and thus were promoted for the 2022-23 season. Read more about BVB women…
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Borussia Dortmund, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Songs
As at Liverpool, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is the club’s
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Borussia Dortmund, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Stadium
Officially known as Signal Iduna Park because an insurance company cut a check, its traditional name Westfalenstadion is, like Borussia, a reference to a Prussian province. At 81,365 capacity for league games, it’s the biggest in Germany and second-biggest club ground (after Barcelona’s) in Europe. It opened in 1974 for that year’s World Cup, it…
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Borussia Dortmund, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Going to a Game at Borussia Dortmund
GETTING THERE: Directions to Signal Iduna Park are on the club’s website. PUBS & GRUB: Coming soon! AROUND TOWN: Dortmund is in the western part of Germany in a very densely-populated area with cities like Cologne and Düsseldorf. The economy is former industrial and currently more research- and technology-oriented. It’s also known…
You can learn more about the club's history, rivalries, women's team, songs and stadium, and get our best tips for seeing a game at Borussia Dortmund, by purchasing a one year Ultras membership. Find out more here.
Borussia Dortmund Tickets
Check the club’s website for the latest availability and information. Groundhopper Soccer Guides sells tickets and hospitality to Borussia Dortmund home games at Signal Iduna Park. Learn more about the options we offer.
Photo Gallery
Coming soon!
Videos
Copa 90 has two great pieces on Borussia Dortmund, one on their rivalry with Schalke 04, and another on their youth academy. The club also made this short documentary which includes a tour of the stadium:
