Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 9y

Borussia Dortmund increase Westfalenstadion capacity

Borussia Dortmund have increased the capacity of their stadium to 81,359 by converting seats into a standing area for young supporters.

Dortmund spent €4 million this summer on improvements to the Westfalenstadion -- already Germany's largest stadium -- and converted a section of 506 seats into a standing area capable of housing 1,311 fans.

The new standing section, on the opposite side to the famous Sudtribune, is to be primarily used for teenagers who have grown out of BVB's "Kids Club," for which the membership ends at the age of 16.

"We want to give the youngsters a new home," Christian Hockenjos, BVB's director of organisation, told local newspaper Ruhr Nachrichten.

The stadium now has a standing capacity of 28,337, with 2,569 places allocated to visiting team's fans, although non-domestic matches will remain all-seater in accordance with UEFA rules.

Dortmund also invested in improvements to the stadium entrance.

Meanwhile, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has told the Rheinische Post that the club must remain successful to ensure they maintain their strong support.

BVB struggled last season, battling relegation before eventually recovering to secure Europa League qualification, and Watzke said: "At the end of the day you need to be permanently successful. The history and also the fan's regional ties are not enough."

Jurgen Klopp left the club at the end of last season after a hugely successful spell in which he won two Bundesliga titles, one DFB Pokal and reached the 2013 Champions League final.

Watzke is confident the club will remain successful, though, as Thomas Tuchel prepares for his first campaign in charge.

"Borussia Dortmund have the 'title gene' -- we have won titles in nearly every decade," he said, with Dortmund having won a trophy in every decade except the 1970s since World War II.

"We always have people in the squad and the club who can remember the last title well. That gives you confidence to be there when it matters. Others don't have it."

Dortmund have already had a successful summer in the transfer market after persuading their key stars -- including Mats Hummels, Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ilkay Gundogan and Neven Subotic -- to stay.

"It's very important that you have faces," he said. "That's why Hummels, Reus, and Aubameyang are so important for us, especially in the international marketing. You should have seen the hype surrounding Marco Reus during our tour of Asia. It was incredible."

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