Numerous initiatives to mark the stadium anniversary | OneFootball

The home game against VfB Stuttgart was entirely dedicated to the 50th birthday of the world's most beautiful stadium. Borussia Dortmund celebrated the anniversary with numerous initiatives.

"March of Triumph" by the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra

When Borussia Dortmund's players come out onto the pitch to warm up, they are traditionally welcomed by the "March of Triumph" from the opera "Aida". To mark the occasion, a special version echoed around the stadium. After the call "Aida, go!" from stadium announcer Norbert Dickel, 43 musicians from the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra played their version of the piece on the pitch in front of the West Stand, drawing the attention of the crowd in the process. It didn't take long for the South Stand to sing along.

Birthday guard of honour

50 children celebrating their birthday formed the "SIGNAL IDUNA birthday guard of honour" to welcome to the teams out of the tunnel. Anyone with a birthday in April like the stadium and aged between 09 and 99 years on 6 April was eligible to apply. They were live on the pitch as the teams came out and subsequently watched the match from the stands with a companion.

Run-out companions

The women's teams of VfB Waltrop and TBV Mengede played their first game at the newly constructed Westfalenstadion in 1974. Approximately 50 years later, 13 women from each of the two teams and the referee from that match returned to the scene, accompanying the BVB and VfB Stuttgart players and the referee onto the pitch on Saturday.

Choreography

The history of the stadium was commemorated with a choreography in the South Stand.

Special shirt

To mark the anniversary, Borussia Dortmund's first team wore a one-off special shirt bearing a design which incorporates the various stages of the stadium's expansion. It is based on the shirt that was worn for the first team photo at the stadium. The shirts worn by the players will be auctioned off for a good cause via the Matchwornshirt.com platform. The proceeds will go to BVB's "leuchte auf" foundation.

Special exhibition at the BORUSSEUM

The special "50 Years of the Stadium" exhibition at the BORUSSEUM had already been opened by club president Dr. Reinhold Lunow in the afternoon. Design students at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts had developed and implemented the ideas and concepts. The temporary exhibition boasts a mixture of analogue and digital exhibits relating to the stadium, its history and its stories. A large, narrative cutaway model offers insights into the stadium. A smartphone or tablet can be used to access further three-dimensional features with augmented reality.

Star on the "BVB Walk of Fame"

The "BVB Walk of Fame" is a way of tracing Borussia Dortmund's history in the city. At special locations, stars embedded in the ground commemorate significant moments, title triumphs and important players. Now there is also a permanent reminder of SIGNAL IDUNA PARK's landmark birthday. (cr)

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