Twenty-five thousand souls. That’s the capacity of Stadion Rote Erde. Can you imagine the energy here?
Welcome to Stadion Rote Erde in Dortmund a place steeped in history. Built between 1924 and 1926 this stadium wasn’t just thrown together. Unemployed workers built it as part of emergency relief projects. The name Rote Erde Red Earth is a historic term for Westphalia the region it stands in. Its opening was a grand affair. Two events actually. On June 6 1926 the bürgerlichen Sportler civic athletes inaugurated the Kampfbahn as it was then called. The ceremony was even broadcast on the radio a real novelty back then. A week later workers’ gymnasts held their own celebration.
This wasn’t just about sports. In 1927 the stadium hosted the German Catholic Day. Eugenio Pacelli the Papal Nuncio in Germany who later became Pope Pius XII led the event. Quite a significant historical moment.
For years Stadion Rote Erde was home to Borussia Dortmund. From 1937 until the opening of the Westfalenstadion in 1974. The stadium saw immense crowds. In the 1960s temporary wooden stands boosted capacity to a whopping 42 000. It was essential to accommodate Borussia’s legions of fans. The war years brought devastation. Bombs severely damaged the stadium but it was rebuilt. Borussia celebrated great successes here in the 1950s and 60s. The wooden stands and roof didn’t vanish though. After the Westfalenstadion opened they were moved to Hannover.
More than just football. The stadium hosted two German national team matches. One in 1935 against the Irish Free State and another in 1967 against Albania a qualifier for the 1968 European Championship. Boxing too. The 1950s saw over 200 000 spectators attend six boxing events. One memorable fight was between Heinz Neuhaus and Hein ten Hoff in 1952. Neuhaus won by knockout in the first round.
Today Stadion Rote Erde is primarily an athletics stadium. It still holds significance for Dortmund. It hosts the second team of Borussia Dortmund. It serves local athletic clubs. The stadium underwent extensive renovations in 2008. That cost 1.65 million euros. Even though it doesn’t meet all modern regulations for professional football it still plays a significant role in the community. In 2021 Borussia Dortmund’s women’s team started playing here. They achieved record attendance in 2024 attracting over 4700 fans.
So much history. So much more than meets the eye. Stadion Rote Erde is a treasure. A testament to Dortmund’s spirit.