A Day at Signal Iduna Park: The Stadium Tour
If you want to understand German football culture, there is no better place to start than Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, the home of Borussia Dortmund.
On October 11 our international group joined the stadium tour, and it was a very memorable experiences. Even without a match, you can feel the atmosphere as soon as you arrive.
The stadium is surrounded by houses and streets, and black and yellow is everywhere. Our guide Sarah, a friendly and very knowledgeable local fan, welcomed us and told us about the history of the club. The tour took about two hours and showed us places that fans normally never see. We walked through the players' tunnel, looked into the dressing rooms, visited the press room, and even sat on the coaches' bench.
The best moment was standing next to the pitch and looking up at the stands. With space for more than 81,000 people, it is the biggest stadium in Germany. Of course, we also saw the famous “Yellow Wall”, the Südtribüne. It is the largest standing terrace in Europe, with room for around 25,000 fans. Even when it was empty, it was impressive. The guide explained how the fans prepare their choreographies and why the atmosphere here is known all over the world. You do not need to be a football fan to enjoy the tour. It is also a great way to learn about German fan culture and about the Ruhr area, where football is a big part of people's identity.
We would recommend it to anyone living in the region, and we would love to come back for a real match day.
