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. That is because Dortmund plays in Europe’s second-largest club stadium, home of the 24,000-seat South Stand, known as the “Yellow Wall.”
LOCATION: Dortmund, Westphalia, Germany
CONTACT: BVB.de/eng, #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 BVB. Of course, Bayern is also a…
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 started out in the lower tiers of the German football league system. After securing two straight promotions, they currently play in the 5th tier of women’s football in Germany. 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, and…
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.
Learn More About Dortmund
Copa 90 has two great pieces on Borussia Dortmund, one on their rivalry with Schalke 04, and another on their youth…
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: From the main train station in town, take the regional train to the Signal Iduna Park station or the the Underground to Westfalenhalle/Stadion. Both of those are a short walk away. PUBS & GRUB: There is a large bar and beer garden next to the stadium called Strobels, but the whole area around the stadium turns into a giant…
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 — but it’s a challenge. Basically each game goes up about 4-6 weeks beforehand, and at some point it’s a matter of dialing into a hotline number and hoping for the best.
Groundhopper Soccer Guides sells tickets and hospitality to Borussia Dortmund home games at Signal Iduna Park. Learn more about the options we offer. by clicking below.
Videos
Borussia Dortmund Stadium Tour
"Around the Grounds" Vodcast 4: Groundhopping in Germany