Westfalenstadion (known as Signal Iduna Park for sponsorship reasons) is the home of Borussia Dortmund. With a capacity of 81,635 it is the largest stadium in Germany and 5th largest in Europe.
The stadium is famed for its atmosphere, with Dortmund holding the European record for average attendance at over 80,000. The South Bank (Südtribüne) is the largest terrace stand in European football with a capacity of 24,454 and is nicknamed “The Yellow Wall” (Die Gelbe Wand).
The stadium was opened in 1974 to replace Dortmund’s former home at Stadion Rote Erde (pictured) which the club had outgrown, although their reserve team still play their today. The first match was on the 2nd April 1974 with a friendly between Dortmund and Schalke 04.
Just two months later, the newly opened venue hosted four matches at the 1974 FIFA World Cup – three group stage matches and a second round group game in which eventual finalists the Netherlands defeated Brazil 2-0.
The original capacity of Westfalenstadion was 54,000 and the stadium remained largely untouched until the 1990s. After initially reducing capacity due to UEFA regulations, a series redevelopments saw capacity reach what it is today.
The most recent of these was in 2006 ahead of the country hosting the FIFA World Cup for a second time. Capacity for this and subsequent international matches was restricted to 65,000 due to all-seater regulations. Six matches in the tournament were played at the stadium – four group matches, a Round of 16 and the semi-final in which hosts Germany lost 2-0 to eventual winners Italy.
As well as a number of Germany international matches, the stadium hosted the 2001 UEFA Cup Final in which Liverpool dramatically defeated Spanish side Alavés 5-4 thanks to an after extra time golden goal.
Tenants: Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Opened: 1974
Capacity: 81,365 (domestic matches)/65,829 (international matches)
Address: Strobelallee 50, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
Tickets at Westfalenstadion
The majority of home Borrusia Dortmund matches sellout well in advance of match day. Tickets start at €16.80 for standing and €33.10 for a seat – a seating plan is available on the Dortmund website here.
Tickets are available to purchase through the official Dortmund ticketing page here.
Location & Travel to Westfalenstadion
The Westfalsenstadion is located approximately 3 kilometres south of Dortmund’s city centre in the west of Germany. The stadium’s name derives from the Westphalia region that Dortmund sits within.
Airport:Â Dortmund Airport is mainly used for low-cost flights across Europe, with destinations such as Munich, London, Vienna and Porto on offer. The airport is located 12 kilometres east of the city and can be reached by an express bus from Dortmund’s main rail station, or catching a shuttle bus to the nearby airport rail station for onwards travel.
Düsseldorf Airport is the nearest intercontinental airport, approximately 60 kilometres south west of Dortmund, with a travel time of just over an hour by train.
Thinking of going to Dortmund? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.
Driving & Parking: The stadium is reachable via the B1 if travelling from the north, east, and west, or B54 if travelling from the south. There are 10,000 payable parking spaces within the local area, or alternatively there is a shuttle service from the university campus on match days – park in the Otto-Hahn-Straße carpark (A45 exit Eichlinghofen or B1 exit Barop).
Stadtbahn: The city’s light rail system has several lines that run near to the stadium. The closest station is Stadion, which only opens on matchdays with U45 and U46 both running there from the city. Both services also run to Westfalenhallen station, a 10 minute walk with U42 going to Theodor-Fliedner-Heim station.
Train: Dortmund Hauptbahnhof is the city’s main railway station and is located centrally. The station has frequent high speed services across Germany as well as Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris.
The stadium has its own railway station, with regional services RB 52, 53 or 59 running from Dortmund Hauptbahnhof in just 5 minutes. On matchdays RE 17 also stops at the station. Alternatively, use the Stadtbahn as above if travelling from the central station.
Thinking of catching a train to Dortmund? Search and book your journey through the Trainline here.
Where to stay in Dortmund
Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Dortmund by clicking here.
Westfalenstadion Stadium Tour and Borusseum
Tours of Westfalenstadion take place every day, with the exception of match days. The tour usually takes 90 minutes and includes entry to the Borusseum club museum. Tours usually run at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm and costs €12.
Further information and booking is available on the official website here.
Further Information & Events
Signal Iduna Park Official Website
Borussia Dortmund Official Website
Last Updated on March 10, 2021 by Sports Tourist