Signal Iduna Park

It is very common for away supporters to sit in one corner of a stadium. However, this is not the case with Signal Iduna Park, where visiting fans occupy a central section of the North stand.

Tickets for away fans typically range from 2,000 to 3,000, depending on the opposition.

The view from here is excellent, but the best bit about Dortmund away is typically the atmosphere. The noise that comes from one end of the stadium inside the Yellow Wall is something that all football fans should experience at least once if they can.

Borussia Dortmund fans are famous for their loud and passionate chants inside Signal Iduna Park, especially from the Yellow Wall.

Here are the most popular Dortmund chants:

• Heja BVB!
• Echte Liebe
• Ole, Jetzt Kommt der BVB
• You’ll Never Walk Alone
• Wir halten fest und treu zusammen

Signal Iduna Park is popular for striking visuals of tifos and choreographies. The Yellow Wall, a massive standing terrace on the southern side of the stadium, is particularly notorious for some of the most striking tifos in European football.

A protest tifo against UEFA at Signal Iduna Park

🚨🇩🇪 Borussia Dortmund fans with huge tifo saying “UEFA MAFIA” 😳

The bottom bit says “You don’t care about the sport – all you care about is money!” (@berger_pj) pic.twitter.com/RQB52AlpZJ

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) October 1, 2024

Signal Iduna Park was opened in 1974 to serve as one of the host stadiums for the World Cup. As a result, the stadium boasts a rich history, and you will enjoy your visit to the ground, previously known as the Westfalenstadion.

The stadium is unique due to its rectangular shape, as opposed to the bowl style adopted by many European grounds. There are also separate stands that are very reminiscent of the British-style stadiums.

The key sections of the stadium are:

Nord Stand

This is a steep section of the stadium. You get great views of the pitch from this stand. It also has a cantilevered roof and often accommodates away supporters.

Sud Stand

This is an iconic section of Signal Iduna Park, commonly known as the Yellow Wall. It is the largest single-tier stand in Europe.

Sud Stand has a capacity of 24,500. In many ways, it is related to Liverpool’s Kop stand, including the rituals like singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before a game.

West Stand

Regarded as the main section of the stadium, the West Stand holds all the changing rooms, dugouts, and tunnels through which players make their way to the pitch. It also features most of the hospitality seats.

Ost Stand

This section of Signal Iduna Park features executive boxes and stands that are very close to the sides of the pitch. Ost Stand can accommodate up to 17,000 supporters.

Germany is one of the renowned destinations for beer, and it is not a surprise that many pubs are available in town for you to enjoy just before the game or even after the game. The top pubs in Dortmund are:

• Strobels Bar – Strobelallee 50, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
• Manhattan Sportsbar Dortmund – Von-der-Tann-Straße 13, 44143 Dortmund, Germany
• Ratsschänke – Prinzenstraße 7, 44135 Dortmund, Germany

On a matchday at Signal Iduna Park, food and drink are as much a part of the experience as the roar of the Yellow Wall. Inside the stadium, fans find an array of kiosks and bars serving the classics of German football culture: steaming bratwurst, crispy fries, and cold drinks.

Everything is cashless, making service swift and efficient, and the fare is designed for convenience without losing the local touch. For those visiting on a tour or corporate event, Borussia Dortmund’s catering team also offers tailored dining options, transforming a simple stop into a small culinary highlight.

Just outside the ground, the neighbourhood offers plenty of choices to extend the day. The casual fan might grab a quick currywurst at Wurst Willi or tuck into a pizza at Bella Napoli or Pizzeria Firenze, both close enough for a pre-match bite.

Those seeking a sit-down meal can head to the ASH for a hearty steak and grill, or PURiNO at Phoenix Arcaden for Italian dishes served with a modern flair. More refined tastes might prefer the French players at Meridien, while plant-based eaters can enjoy creative vegan dishes at Vagansky.

A short stroll to the Kreuzviertel district opens up even more options, from lively pubs to relaxed cafes, where the atmosphere carries the same anticipation as the stadium itself.

Chicken schnitzel at Dortmund (@BlackYellow @BVB)

💶 €3.80 (£3.30) pic.twitter.com/ED9tVSwnoc

— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) December 30, 2022

Krakauer – sausage at Borussia Dortmund (@bvb @BlackYellow)

💶 €4.50 (£3.90) pic.twitter.com/vnu0cPhPcH

— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) February 9, 2023

By train

Signal Iduna Park is conveniently located and hence can be easily accessed by train. The main railway station, Signal Idunak-Park station, is about 3 km away from the stadium.

There are also numerous connections from Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, and Wolfsburg. Once you arrive in Dortmund, take a regional train or the U-Bahn tramline, which is more convenient.

If you take the tramline, you must get off at Westfalenhallen. Lines 45 and 46 are ideal for this purpose. Upon alighting, you are just five minutes away from the ground.

On match days, you can use Westfalenstadion, which is within walking distance.

The train services are abundant, with around three to four available every hour, and the prices are affordable.

By car

Signal Iduna Park can also be easily reached by car. The A1 that heads towards the Dortmund-Unna junction is ideal for travellers coming from the north. In this case, you should take the A44/B1.

If you are coming from the East, take the A2 on the way to the Dortmund-Nordost junction. From there, use B235 to Schwerte, then switch to the B1.

If you are travelling from the south, the A45 to the Dortmund-Sud junction will be your option. From there, you can take the B54 that heads into the stadium. The A40/B1 is a preferred route for those coming from the west.

Taxis are available from Dortmund Hauptbahnhof airport for approximately €15. The ride takes about 10 minutes.

Where to park near the Borussia Dortmund stadium

There are more than 10,000 parking spaces near Signal Iduna Park, with many others located in Westfalenhalle.

Borussia Dortmund have taken several measures to make life easier for disabled fans visiting Signal Iduna Park.

For starters, there are 150 parking spaces for people with disabilities. There is also a special entrance to the stadium.

To be eligible for these privileges, fans must have all the necessary disability documentation.

Additionally, disabled fans receive match tickets at discounted prices, currently starting from €15, while an accompanying person must pay €39.90.

Tickets for Dortmund’s home and away matches can be purchased on the official website. Supporters have the option to choose from standard match tickets, VIP or hospitality packages, and family tickets. However, some specific rules and criteria apply to purchasing away tickets, which fans should be aware of to be considered for away travel.

The ticket prices set by Dortmund are dependent on the seating plan, type of opponent, and competition. There are several categories available.

Most importantly, adults in the family block pay €55 during the 2025/26 season, while the price for children is €10.

Disabled supporters of BVB are charged €15 for a single-match ticket.

Additionally, tickets at Signal Iduna Park are priced based on categories of 1, 2, 3, 5 and 5. The cheapest prices are in the fifth category, with regular ones costing as low as €15 for adults in standing zones.

Stadium tours at Signal Iduna Park, one of the world’s largest stadiums, are conducted throughout the year. All tours provide fans with access to VIP areas, the tunnel, the club museum, the press room and dressing rooms.

There are two types of tours at Signal Iduna Park –

• Public
• Private

Public tours are available throughout the week, where groups of up to 40 people are taken on a tour around the stadium.

Private tours can be booked in advance for a more intimate walk around the stadium with a personal guide for you and your party. Naturally, private tours cost more than public ones.

All tours are available in either German or English. Tours can be booked through the official Dortmund website.

Locally, Schalke 04 are the biggest rivals of Borussia Dortmund. A clash between these two teams is known as Revierderby, a football spectacle that usually attracts thousands of fans.

Notably, the Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke 04 is ranked highly among the most intense derbies in German football.

Confrontation of fans from both sides is always a possibility, so extra security measures are always put in place to avert such eventualities.

Signal Iduna Park is well-known for the Yellow Wall, where Dortmund’s diehard fans, especially the ultras, often occupy, lighting up fireworks and waving tifos. Activities at Dortmund’s Yellow Wall typically intensify when they host rivals like Schalke.

The most recent 10 encounters between these teams, dating back to November 2017 and March 2023, were dominated by Dortmund.  They had five wins, during which three draws were recorded and two wins in favour of Schalke 04.

Unfortunately for Schalke 04, getting relegated to the second tier and an average performance so far in the 2024/25 season mean Revierderby may not be forthcoming anytime soon.

Other Borussia Dortmund rivals

Bayern Munich are the biggest rivals of Borussia Dortmund from a competitive standpoint. VfL Bochum and MSV Duisburg, both based in the Ruhr, are also notable rivals.

Plans to build the Signal Iduna Park as we know it today were first submitted in the 1960s, as the growing success of Borussia Dortmund rendered their previous home, Stadion Rote Erde, unfit for purpose.

The modest size of Rote Erde was no longer suitable for the ever-increasing home crowd in Dortmund. However, due to financial issues, Signal Iduna Park was not built until 1971, and it later opened in 1974.

This was because Dortmund was a last-minute replacement for Cologne as a hosting city in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. As such, funds that were originally earmarked for Cologne were reallocated to Dortmund.

As a result, a brand-new 54,000-seater stadium was constructed, and its fortunate beginnings meant that the ground had pedigree within the sport from the outset. It appeared to be a facility destined for greatness, and in the years that followed, it is fair to say that Signal Iduna Park has lived up to that expectation.

Since its construction, the stadium has hosted matches in the Champions League, the 1974 World Cup, the 2006 World Cup and now a further six games at Euro 2024.

In the present day, the ground’s capacity currently sits at 81,365 for domestic matches and has become an iconic venue for European football, loved by supporters from across the globe.

Record attendance

83,000 vs Schalke, Stuttgart, Bayern Munich, Rostock (2004-05 & 2005-06 season)

Average attendance

• 2023-2024: 81,302 (Bundesliga)
• 2022-2023: 81,228 (Bundesliga)
• 2021-2022: N/A (Covid)
• 2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
• 2019-2020: 57,297 (Bundesliga)
• 2018-2019: 80,841 (Bundesliga)
• 2017-2018: 79,496 (Bundesliga)