Whether in London, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, or Milan: every child knows the Yellow Wall.
Dortmund was once world-renowned for its beer, and even today, the name of our city shines across the whole world. Whether in London, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, or Milan: every child knows the Yellow Wall. We asked four international journalists to describe how our stadium and club are perceived by their home countries.
There aren’t many clubs that can keep up with Dortmund
A capacity of over 80,000 people. 25,000 of those are in the south stand, which forms the “Yellow Wall.” BVB isn’t just a club that’s known worldwide for its exciting football, but also for the atmosphere its stadium creates.
No, I haven’t already had the opportunity to visit SIGNAL IDUNA PARK myself, but I did have the chance to be part of the south stand through a video call with my friend. I was virtually standing amongst the 25,000 fans who manage to break the morale of almost every opposing team with their energy.
European football has a charm that captivates fans who are even thousands of kilometres away. Even Indian fans are no strangers to this feeling. Whether you support the club or not, there’s no denying the impressive atmosphere the BVB fans create in their stadium.
Unlike fans in Europe, most Indian fans have only seen their favourite clubs and players on the TV. They all talk about visiting their favourite club’s stadium one day, but the wishes don’t stop there. Even those whose favourite club isn’t Borussia Dortmund dream of visiting SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. Yes, they may prefer another club, but when it comes to a stadium’s atmosphere, even the Indian football enthusiasts admit there aren’t many clubs in the world that can keep up with Dortmund.
As a long-time fan of Borussia Dortmund, I can say with certainty that the connection to the fans I experienced within that club is unparalleled. One look at the Yellow Wall during home games is enough to define the passion that reverberates around SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.
The international motto of the Bundesliga is “Football as it’s meant to be.” Clubs like Borussia Dortmund and stadiums like SIGNAL IDUNA PARK are where the beautiful game takes its meaning.
From India
Sahil Bakshi
Times Now
Special Sports Correspondent
„Passione“ – the embodiment of passion
“True love,” as they say in Dortmund… From the first moment, it’s the feeling you get when you enter the stadium: this very special love for the people and the citizens of a city where people really live for football – as well as love for BVB.
In Italy, Borussia Dortmund and its stadium are best known for the “Yellow Wall” (Il Muro Giallo), the impressive black and yellow crowd that astonishes you the first time you see it live: when you stand in front of it, you can see the essence of football in its true form. This is thanks to its fantastic choreography but is also expressed through simply looking at the faces of the mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, and all the different people there. It’s a fan base whose true diversity is united by a common passion. That’s the reason why many Italian football lovers appreciate Borussia Dortmund and often even become Dortmund fans. Because of this special relationship between football and the city, the team immediately fascinates the Italians. My “first time” was at a Revier derby, and part of my job as a sports journalist is to describe the stadium’s atmosphere. It was impossible to put into words. Then there were some games against Bayern Munich for example. I remember witnessing a great win by Tuchel’s BVB with Aubameyang and Dembele over Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich. Or I think of the magic when You’ll never walk alone is belted out with scarves raised to the heavens before the game.
I was also there against Eintracht Frankfurt for the first home game after the attack on the team bus in 2017. Marco Reus’ backheel goal was almost a sign: the Dortmund-born captain symbolically took the hearts of his fellow citizens into his hands to magically get them through the moment together.
That was honestly one of the most intense moments I have ever experienced in a football stadium.
If nothing else, this stadium was obviously, for us Italians, the stage for one of our national team’s most historical games: the semi-final of the 2006 World Cup against Germany. That was an important win of course, but that’s not my point. I rather want to emphasise how the Italians perceived Dortmund’s stadium as a further advantage for the German national team. It’s a stadium that can determine games through the atmosphere it creates. Italy understood all too well that an already difficult game would become even more challenging because it took place in Dortmund. And that’s because you go to a place that is much more than just a stadium. It’s the embodiment of passion, or the “Passione,” as we say in Italian.
From Italy
Niccolò Omini
Sky Sport Italia
Presenter and Reporter
The south stand is a role model for Brazil’s fans
My relationship with SIGNAL IDUNA PARK began in April 2013, when I watched on TV how the Yellow Wall greeted their team before the game against Malaga. From then on, I felt a kind of admiration mixed with passion, and followed the team from afar. I watched their games, celebrated their wins, and felt the disappointment of their defeats.
The south stand is a role model for football fans here in Brazil. During match broadcasts, the commentators regularly emphasise how the fans back their team throughout the whole game with their chants. Before big European games, fans watching on TV always get to see the choreographies and confetti showers, and whatnot.
The stadium also holds a lot of meaning for Brazil’s national team: Ronaldo scored his 15th World Cup goal there against Ghana in 2006, becoming the highest goal scorer in the tournament’s history.
I wish SIGNAL IDUNA PARK many more years of history and success!
From Brazil
Thiago D’Amaral
ESPN Brazil
Website Reporter
Nowhere in Europe has anything comparable
When you leave the station and see all the fans gathering around the stadium, the immense size of the cathedral becomes clear. Once you’re inside, the atmosphere is special. Nowhere in Europe has anything comparable to the Yellow Wall. It reminds me of the original, pure grandstands in England. We have many reasons to envy German football, and this is one of them.
From England
Simon Stone
BBC
There are not many clubs that can keep up with Dortmund
