Westfalenstadion

Plans to construct a new stadium were drawn up in the 1960s, as the need arose to expand and refurbish the traditional ground of Borussia Dortmund, the Stadion Rote Erde ("Red Soil Stadium").^{[citation needed]} Following the historic triumph^[tone] in the 1966 Cup Winners' Cup (Dortmund was the first German team to win a European club title), it became clear^{[to whom?]} that the Stadion Rote Erde was too small for the increasing number of Borussia Dortmund supporters. The city of Dortmund, however, was not able to finance a new stadium and federal institutions were unwilling to help.^{[citation needed]}

In 1971, Dortmund was selected to replace the city of Cologne, which was forced to withdraw its plans to host games in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.^{[citation needed]} The funds originally set aside for the projected stadium in Cologne were thus re-allocated to Dortmund. However, architects and planners had to keep an eye on^[tone] the costs due to a tight budget. This meant that plans for a 60 million DM oval stadium featuring the traditional athletic facilities and holding 60,000 spectators had to be discarded.^{[citation needed]} Instead, plans for a much cheaper 54,000 spectator football arena, built of pre-fabricated concrete sections, became a reality.^{[citation needed]} Ultimately, the costs amounted to 32.7 million DM, of which 1.6 million DM were invested in the refurbishment of the Stadion Rote Erde.^{[citation needed]} The city of Dortmund, initially burdened^[tone] with 6 million DM, only had to pay 800,000 DM, and quickly profited from the stadium's high revenues.

On 2 April 1974, Borussia Dortmund officially moved into their new home and has played in the Westfalenstadion ever since.^[1] Having been relegated in 1972, Borussia Dortmund was the only member of the 2. Bundesliga (second Division) to host the 1974 World Cup games in a completely new stadium.^{[citation needed]} In 1976, after promotion to the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund played its first game in Germany's highest division in their new home stadium.^{[citation needed]}

On 16 May 2001, the Westfalenstadion hosted the 2001 UEFA Cup final between Liverpool and Alavés.^[12]

In the 1974 FIFA World Cup, the Westfalenstadion hosted three group stage games and one final group game.^{[citation needed]} The maximum capacity of the stadium was 54,000.^[13]

The Group 2 match between Scotland and Zaire (2-0) on 14 June was the first time a Sub-Saharan African country played a FIFA World Cup game.

The stadium was one of the venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.^{[citation needed]} Due to sponsorship contracts, however, the arena was called FIFA World Cup Stadium Dortmund during the World Cup.

Six games were played there during the tournament, including Germany's first loss ever at the stadium, a 2–0 defeat to Italy.^{[citation needed]} Also, Trinidad and Tobago played their first ever World Cup match at the stadium, against Sweden.^[14]

The stadium hosted six matches for the UEFA Euro 2024, which included a round of 16 and a semifinals match.

Situated directly next to Stadion Rote Erde, the Westfalenstadion is composed of four roofed grandstands, each facing the playing field on the east, south, west and north sides.^[24] The eastern and western stands (Ost- und Westtribüne) run the entire length of the field, while the breadth is covered by the north and south stands (Nord- und Südtribüne).^[24]

Originally, the corners between the four grandstands remained empty and the spectators appreciated^{[according to whom?]} the extensive roof, which covered over 80% of the stands.^{[citation needed]} The eastern and western stands housed the stadium's 17,000 seats, while the 37,000 standing places were housed in the northern and southern stands.^{[citation needed]}

Located on the southern terrace of the stadium is Dortmund's "Yellow Wall", which is the largest free-standing grandstand in Europe, with a capacity of 25,000.^[25] The "Yellow Wall" gives Westfalenstadion one of the most intimidating home atmospheres in all of Europe,^{[according to whom?]} aiding Borussia Dortmund to an unbeaten home campaign in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League.^[26] Then-Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, when asked whether he feared Dortmund's players or their manager more, responded by saying "It is the Yellow Wall that scares me the most".^[27]

The first expansion plans are dated back to 1961, although the required funding was not available until 4 October 1971 when the city council decided to rebuild the stadium between 1971 and 1974 for the FIFA World Cup.^{[citation needed]} As part of the extensions an additional roof was added around the stadium that weighed 3000 tons.^{[vague][citation needed]}

The original capacity of 54,000 was reduced in 1992 due to UEFA regulations.^{[vague][citation needed]} As the standing rows on the entire northern, the lower eastern and the lower western grandstands were converted into seats, the capacity shrank to 42,800.^{[citation needed]} With 26,000 seats (23,000 covered), the seating in the Westfalenstadion outnumbered the standing rows.^{[citation needed]}

After Borussia Dortmund won the Bundesliga in 1995, the Westfalenstadion was expanded yet again.^{[citation needed]} In the first private venture stadium expansion in German history, the two main grandstands, the eastern and the western blocks, received a second tier.^{[citation needed]} Covered by a new roof-construction, each section housed an additional 6,000 seats.^{[citation needed]} Thus, the stadium's capacity was restored to the original 54,000, of which the majority (38,500) were now covered seats.^{[citation needed]} Following Dortmund's 1997 UEFA Champions League victory, success and an ever-growing number of enthusiastic fans^{[according to whom?]} made it necessary to enlarge the Westfalenstadion yet again. The southern and northern grandstands were enlarged this time, boosting the total capacity to 68,800 spectators.^{[citation needed]} The southern standing ranks ("Die Südtribüne", where the home team's supporters gather) became the largest free-standing grandstand of its kind in the whole of Europe, with a capacity of 25,000.^{[citation needed]}

When Germany won the World Cup bid in 2000, it became clear^{[to whom?]} that Westfalenstadion would play a leading role in hosting the tournament. However, as the Westfalenstadion failed to fulfill FIFA requirements for hosting semi-finals, it had to be enlarged a third time.^{[citation needed]} Four new stands were built to fill the corners between the existing grandstands, raising the seating capacity for international games from 52,000 to 67,000.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, the new corner elements provided seating and catering to VIP guests, increasing the total number of VIP seats to 5,000.^{[citation needed]} In order to provide the new sections with an unblocked view of the field, the existing interior roof supports were removed and replaced by exterior pylons, which were painted yellow to suit the Borussia Dortmund colours.^{[citation needed]} During the course of those renovations, construction workers found an undetonated 1,000–pound (450 kg) bomb dropped by an Allied bomber in the Second World War that was only about one metre below the halfway line on the pitch.^{[citation needed]} Bomb disposal experts had to evacuate the stadium and surrounding neighbourhood in Dortmund, which as part of Germany's industrial centre was bombed heavily, before taking an hour to defuse the device.^{[citation needed]}

Now^[when?] it is considered^{[by whom?]} one of the biggest and most comfortable stadiums in Europe. The last renovation was made for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The stadium has a glass front, under-soil heating (allowing matches in winter) and the biggest terraced stand.^{[where?][citation needed]} It is Germany's largest stadium capacity of 81,360.^{[citation needed]} The expansion was realised by the German architectural firm of Architekten Schröder Schulte-Ladbeck.^{[citation needed]} There are four video screens inside the stadium.^{[citation needed]} The fifth screen on the outside of the north stands is smaller, measuring 28 square meters.^{[citation needed]}

Since 1 December 2005, Westfalenstadion carries the name of Signal Iduna Park. This agreement was extended in February 2022 until 2031.^[28]

The stadium now^[when?] hosts up to 81,365 fans (standing and seated) for league matches, and 65,829 seated spectators for international games, where the characteristic Southern grandstand is re-equipped with seats to conform with FIFA regulations.^{[citation needed]} As match ticket prices are among the lowest among Europe's Big Five football leagues (England, Germany, Spain, France and Italy), the stadium attracts many English fans to its games and has starting conducting stadium tours in English.^[27]

The stadium is set to undergo some renovation works in 2018 with the stadium's capacity to rise to 81,365 for Bundesliga Matches and 66,099 for international matches.^[vague][29] Free wifi is due to be introduced but the club plans to shut off the signal while play is going on so fans will put their smartphones away and pay attention to supporting the team.^[vague][27]

Starting in the 2022–23 season, fans were allowed to stand during Champions League games, raising the capacity to 81,365 (same as league matches).^[30]

The property of the Westfalenstadion, originally belonging to the city of Dortmund and later sold to the club Borussia Dortmund, was sold to a real estate trust in 2002 when the club was facing serious financial problems.^{[citation needed]} Following that, Westfalenstadion was in the possession of Florian Homm for about two years,^{[citation needed]} it was sold back to a real estate trust with Borussia Dortmund intending to repurchase the stadium gradually up to 2017.^{[citation needed]} However, the club was not able to pay the regular rates in spring 2005 and the holders of the trust agreed in cutting back the asset's interest rates and allowed the club to pay the rates after financial reorganisation.^{[vague][citation needed]} Because of these measures, bankruptcy of the club was avoided and the future of the facility was secured.^{[citation needed]} In 2006, Borussia Dortmund became the new owner by buying the stadium back with the help of a loan from Morgan Stanley.^{[citation needed]} Borussia Dortmund paid off the loan from Morgan Stanley in 2008.^[31][32]

In order to reduce debt, the naming rights to the stadium was sold to an insurance company, Signal Iduna.^{[citation needed]} From 2005 until 2031, the stadium is known as the "Signal Iduna Park". During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was called "FIFA World Cup Stadium, Dortmund" since Signal Iduna was not FIFA's sponsor.^{[citation needed]}

Signal Iduna Park can be reached with the Dortmund Stadtbahn (light rail) lines U42 (Theodor-Fliedner-Heim Station), U45 (Stadion Station), U46 (Westfalenhallen Station and also Stadion).^{[citation needed]} The U45 and U46 are unique in that they serve the special station, Stadion, that is open on game days only.^{[citation needed]} Additionally Deutsche Bahn serves the Dortmund Signal-Iduna-Park station with both regularly scheduled and special game-day trains.^{[citation needed]} This station can be reached using regional RB trains from Dortmund Central Station, as well as from other cities in the metropolitan area, such as Hagen, Iserlohn, and Lüdenscheid.^{[citation needed]} However, some supporters usually alight the U42 and S4 at the Möllerbrücke station and walk to Signal Iduna Park through the Kreuzviertel via Lindemannstraße or Arneckestraße.^{[citation needed]}

The stadium can be reached from Dortmund Airport by taking the shuttle bus to the Holzwickede/Dortmund Airport train station, taking train RB59 towards Dortmund Central Station and getting out at Signal Iduna Park.^{[citation needed]}

By car the stadium can be reached via the B 1 Ruhrschnellweg and B 54.^{[citation needed]} Parking is also available at the Technical University of Dortmund, where shuttle busses take fans to the stadium.^{[citation needed]}

From the subway station Möllerbrücke visitors approach the stadium through the Kreuzviertel.^{[citation needed]} It is well known^{[by whom?]} for its many bars, clubs, pubs, and cafes, concentrated in the vicinity of Kreuzstraße and Vinkeplatz and create a day and nightlife atmosphere unique from the rest of the city.^{[citation needed]} That's the reason why the subway station and the city quarter is popular by local fans and those visiting of Borussia Dortmund as a last resort for drinking a cheap beer in the numerous Pubs around the Stadium.^{[according to whom?]} On match days, many traders sell beer, sausages (Bratwurst) and jerseys on the street.^{[citation needed]} The north side of the stadium is also the site of a lot of exhibition hotels, apartments and the "Mit Schmackes", a football-themed restaurant and fan clubhouse conceived by former Borussia Dortmund player Kevin Grosskreutz.^{[citation needed]}

On the other side of the Autobahn, the Trade fair with its Westfalenhallen and TV Tower called Florianturm affords a marvellous^{[according to whom?]} view of the stadium.^{[citation needed]}

• Werner Skrentny (Hrsg.), Das grosse Buch der Deutschen Fussball-Stadien, Göttingen: Verlag Die Werkstatt, 2001
• Gernot Stick, Stadien 2111, Basel: Birkhäuser 2005

• Lists of stadiums

• Signal Iduna Park, official site
• Stadium page at the official Borussia Dortmund website
• Atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park
• Pictures of Signal Iduna Park

51°29′33″N 7°27′6″E / 51.49250°N 7.45167°E / 51.49250; 7.45167