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My Borussia Dortmund match-day experience at the Westfalenstadion

By Vedran Dedic

27 April 2019, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Soccer: Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund - FC Schalke 04, 31st matchday in Signal-Iduna-Park. Fans of Dortmund hold their scarves upwards with a view to the south curve. Photo: Friso Gentsch/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or the match in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo sequences. (Photo by Friso Gentsch/picture alliance via Getty Images)
27 April 2019, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Soccer: Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund - FC Schalke 04, 31st matchday in Signal-Iduna-Park. Fans of Dortmund hold their scarves upwards with a view to the south curve. Photo: Friso Gentsch/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or the match in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo sequences. (Photo by Friso Gentsch/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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On April 27, 2019, I made my dream come true by going to Dortmund to watch BVB play and play against fierce rivals Schalke 04 in a very important Revierderby.

As any follower and supporter of BVB knows, we lost that derby through terrible circumstances. However, this article will focus more so on the fan experience as the match has been covered by other Borussia Dortmund writers.

Our day started off by taking the S Bahn from Oberhausen to Dortmund. When we arrived at the platform in Oberhausen, the majority of travellers were Borussia Dortmund supporters. The train arrived on time and we took our seats. With each stop, more black and yellow clad supporters got on the train. We made small talk with some passengers with our survival German and their very decent English. We arrived at Dortmund’s main train station about 2 hours before kick off.

Having never been in Dortmund before, we decided to walk to the Westfalenstadion. A walk that took about 30 minutes. On the way to the stadium, little shops were open on the way that were selling bratwurst and beer. Thousands of Dortmund fans were headed in the same direction. We were one black and yellow army in lockstep ready for the match.

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A Borussia Dortmund fan ahead of us had a Schalke scarf that he was dragging through the streets and allowed fellow supporters to step on it. We were obliged to him.

Arriving at the stadium in all its iron and metal clad working class glory, security was plenty and tight. Entering the stadium, we were patted down before we scanned in our tickets. Once inside, we had plenty of time. We stood in a little line for bratwurst, but once we got to the front, we were informed that we had to get a card that you put money on as form of payment. So we found a stadium worker right near the bratwurst stand, who had these cards, and she explained the process to us. Easy peasy. And the prices were very supporter friendly.

Climbing up the steps to our seats, the stadium was a sight to behold. It’s MASSIVE. Looking at its size when watching the match on TV/laptop/phone does not do it justice. We had about an hour or so before kickoff. The Yellow Wall was slowly building during this time and the noise was increasing. The pitch was full of club workers waving Dortmund flags around. The public announcement system began to play the club’s songs.

Eventually, goalkeepers from both teams made their way out to warm up, followed a little bit later by the rest of their perspective teams. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” blared through the system and all Dortmund fans sang in unison together before kick-off, around the time the starting XIs were announced.

We sat close to the away section, which was separated from our section by a net. There were approximately 3,000 Schalke fans in attendance and to be fair to them, brought the noise, support, and banter throughout the match (and also tastelessness – one incident involving throwing a lighter at Sancho after our first goal and the second one involving holding a sign that said “Free Sergej”, the convict who bombed Dortmund’s team bus before a Champions League match with Monaco). And after every goal scored, they would taunt, tease, and throw beer in our direction. Of course, the Yellow Wall was the pumping heart throughout the match; I don’t think I heard them stop. After the match was over, a group of Dortmund ultras went over to the away section to confront the Schalke fans, but police quickly intervened.

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As you all know, this match was one of the matches that cost us the title in the Ruckrunde as we received two red cards in this match (one for Reus and one for Wolf). Apart from the negative result, the experience was unique, amazing, and tense. If you ever get the chance….GO! Regardless whether it is the Revierderby or not. Watching BVB at home is one of those life experiences that you will never forget and you will hold close your heart. I hope to go again. Heja BVB!

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