Signal Iduna Park, officially known as Westfalenstadion, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Dortmund, Germany. It is primarily used for association football matches, hosting the home games of Borussia Dortmund, the club that owns the stadium.
The stadium was inaugurated on 2 April 1974 with a Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen. It replaced the former Stadion Rote Erde, which had a seating capacity of 42,000. The current capacity of Signal Iduna Park is 81,365 for league matches and 66,099 for international matches, making it the largest football stadium in Germany. The stadium's design was the work of architect Planungsgruppe Drahtler, and its construction cost was approximately €200 million.
As a UEFA category four stadium and one of the largest stadiums by capacity in Europe, Signal Iduna Park has been the venue for several notable football events. It hosted matches during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, including a semi-final, and it has also hosted the UEFA Cup final in 2001 and the UEFA Champions League final in 2013. In 2009, The Times newspaper listed it as the best football stadium in the world, largely due to its renowned 'Yellow Wall', which is the largest free-standing grandstand in Europe with a capacity of 25,000. By its 45th anniversary, Signal Iduna Park had welcomed more than 50 million spectators. The stadium is expected to be one of the potential venues for future international football events.
While the previous Borussia Dortmund stadium was also officially named 'Stadion Rote Erde', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, Signal Iduna Park. Signal Iduna Park is named after the Signal Iduna Group, an insurance company and main sponsor of Borussia Dortmund. This unofficial name gained popularity after the renovation of the original stadium; the people of Dortmund used to simply call it Westfalenstadion ('Westphalia Stadium'). After the sponsorship agreement, the stadium's common name became 'Signal Iduna Park', which is often used in international contexts. This change, however, could be argued to be controversial, as many fans still prefer to use the original name, Westfalenstadion, referring to the region of Westphalia where Dortmund is situated.
The stadium was initially opened in 1974 and has undergone several renovations since then. It was one of the venues for the 1974 FIFA World Cup and also hosted matches during the 2006 World Cup. The stadium's capacity has also been increased several times, from an initial 54,000 to its current capacity of over 81,000 spectators, making it the largest stadium in Germany and the seventh-largest in Europe.
Known for its incredible atmosphere, Signal Iduna Park is particularly famous for the 'Yellow Wall', the south stand that accommodates around 25,000 standing spectators, making it the largest free-standing grandstand in Europe. On matchdays, this stand becomes a sea of yellow and black, the team's colors, as fans cheer on their team with unyielding passion and energy.
Over the years, Signal Iduna Park has been the site of many memorable moments in football history. It has hosted countless thrilling matches, seen numerous records broken, and witnessed the careers of many legendary players. Despite changes in name and form, Signal Iduna Park continues to stand as a symbol of Borussia Dortmund's rich history and bright future, embodying the passion, dedication, and spirit of the club and its fans.
A suitable location, with excellent access and ample space for future growth, was identified in the Stadtkrone Ost area of Dortmund. Being located on the boundary of the Stadtkrone Ost and the Dortmund city center, the new stadium was initially known as 'Westfalenstadion'.
The club's aspiration was always to own both the stadium and the surrounding lands, although initially a lease was made on the municipal lands, with a final purchase happening only in 1974. The plans for the sports complex were outlined as early as the late 1960s by Gerd Langguth, a former player for the club.
Under the leadership of the club's president, Heinz Günther, the members managed to meet an increased fee to support the construction costs for the new stadium, made substantial donations, and some even went as far as to work on the construction site on holidays or weekends. There was even a 'brick campaign', whereby large quantities of bricks were donated to the club.
The construction officially commenced on 4 April 1971. Less than three years later, and at a cost of 32,678,734 Deutsche Mark, on 2 April 1974 (a national holiday), a crowd of 54,000 spectators filled the stadium for the inaugural match against rivals FC Schalke 04.
'Signal Iduna Park (1974)' (in German). Borussia Dortmund: A detailed description of the history and features of Signal Iduna Park, from the time it was built in 1974. #
'Signal Iduna Park (Westfalenstadion) – until 2005'. StadiumDB.com: Provides information about the stadium from its inception until 2005. #
Das Licht geht nicht aus, Prefácio, Prime Books, 2003: German book examining the history and legacy of the Signal Iduna Park. #
Borussia Dortmund 100 glorious years - The History 1, Edition and Contents, S.A., 2003: A comprehensive history of Borussia Dortmund and its stadium, Signal Iduna Park. #
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