Full house, empty coffers: BVB’s stadium dilemma | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund is stuck in a financial dilemma despite packed stands: the beloved stadium is holding the club back. New figures reveal just how large the gap to the competition really is.

For many football fans, Signal Iduna Park is a myth—a place full of emotion, a symbol of BVB’s identity, and home to the famous “Yellow Wall.” But behind this impressive atmosphere lies a structural problem that significantly slows the club down compared to its rivals.

Although Borussia Dortmund regularly boasts the highest attendance figures in the Bundesliga and attracts over 81,000 fans per home game, the economic return remains modest. According to Sport Bild, the club earns only about 2.2 million euros per match. This puts BVB not only well behind FC Bayern (5.7 million euros), but also behind clubs like Stuttgart or Eintracht Frankfurt. This creates a revenue gap of around 77 million euros per season between Bayern and Dortmund.

The main reason is the stadium itself. Opened in 1974, Signal Iduna Park is considered a cult venue, but it is not a modern premium stadium. Sport Bild points out that Dortmund has only 18 suites—a vanishingly small number compared to Bayern (106), Schalke (81), or Frankfurt (76). Hospitality income, which is one of the most important sources of revenue for many top clubs, is therefore very limited in Dortmund.

Stadium Tours in Focus: BVB Wants to Significantly Increase Revenue

Instead, BVB is trying to tap into other potentials. There are higher expectations for offerings outside of match days. Sport Bild reports that Dortmund wants to increase revenue from stadium tours: currently, this brings in only 1.5 million euros per year, while Real Madrid earns an impressive 45 million euros with its museum.

New event formats are also expected to generate additional revenue. For example, Signal Iduna Park could be used more often for major sporting events in the future. The partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers opens up the possibility of hosting football games in Dortmund. Per event, BVB could net about one million euros, despite high operating costs. However, there will continue to be no concerts—the stadium is to remain a purely sporting venue.

Thus, BVB remains the undisputed emotional owner of one of Europe’s most famous stadiums, but is still far from the top economically. Dortmunders love their home—but the beloved Signal Iduna Park is no longer a financial advantage, but rather the club’s greatest structural disadvantage.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.