It is first of all a buzzing sound, as if one were standing near a giant hive. Once in Signal Idona Park in Dortmund, where PSG is playing this Tuesday evening the 8th final first leg of the Champions League, we are immediately struck by this thump that rises from the huge grandstand where 24,500 supporters - out of 81 365 of the stadium - mass, standing, in the championship. So here it is this Südtribüne, this Yellow Wall 100 m wide and 52 m deep, from which descends before each meeting a striking "You never walk alone".
"It's simple, it's the biggest fan base in the world," says Jan-Henrick Gruszecki. At 35, this Borussia supporter since the age of 6 is an ultra loyal club member of which he is also a historian. "The difference between a grandstand and that of Borussia Dortmund is that ours is always full," he said.
Security requires, UEFA imposes a reduction in the capacity of the kop in the Champions League and the installation of seats. A quarter reduction in reception capacity (note: 16,000 places, or 8,500 fewer fans than in the Bundesliga) . "Except that no one sits," smiles Jan-Henrick Gruszecki. We have more space but it's more dangerous, especially during goals. As a result, there are more injuries in the Champions League. It's crazy. "
50,000 fans on the waiting list!
At the heart of the gallery, there are 3,500 Ultras organized around three associations. And thousands of fans of all kinds who paid 250 euros for the season with 20 games at stake (17 in the championship and 3 in the Champions League). The real challenge remains to be able to get sesame for the Yellow Wall. 50,000 people are indeed on the waiting list! However, at the end of last season, only 85 subscribers did not resume their card. As a result, the people in the gallery are aging. Long gone are the days when a simple call to the club was enough to book your subscription.
“We are a family!” Says Volkmar, 51, a member of the Südtribüne for 25 years. I feel like at home. The youngest supporter I know must be 7-8 years old. The oldest is an 85 year old gentleman who never misses a match. "
Fynn, 13, had his first game in the Yellow Wall at ... a year old! "They make a special card for children," says father Heijo, beer in hand. The atmosphere is so cool in this gallery. I know we are lucky to have a subscription. "
Janina (26) and her boyfriend Simon (29) also speak of "luck" and "privilege" when talking about their experience in the kop of Borussia where 95% of people have been for years same place. Hats on their heads, they too speak of a "big family" within which "women and children feel safe" underlines the young woman.
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Back to the table at the “Pomme Rot Weiss” bar-restaurant, at 60 Oesterholzstrasse. In the building where the Borussia Dortmund was founded in 1909, Jan-Henrick Gruszecki continues his description. "There are young people you wonder how they got their subscription and old people who were there when the stadium was inaugurated in 1974," he slips. This is what I like in Dortmund. "
"We know that we are a big asset for the club"
In the process, he adds: “But it is a legend to imagine that the 25,000 spectators howl and dance for 90 minutes. When there is a big game or a highlight, we are able to create one of the most beautiful atmospheres in the world. But it's not like that all the time. You have to be honest with that. If you are going to see a boring match, you will not go home saying: wow . It's not like in Marseille where the fans are really crazy. "
The young man, however, promises a particularly intense welcome for PSG and especially Thomas Tuchel who left a mixed impression in Dortmund. "For us, playing against Paris is playing against the man over there," he said, showing a photo of the PSG coach.
One thing is certain, the Yellow Wall has allowed Borussia to gain notoriety. "We know that we are a big asset for the club," confirms Gruszecki. Some sponsors put in money because they want to be part of this culture. So, when you disagree with the policy of the leaders, you sometimes threaten to strike. And the sponsors immediately say: do what the supporters ask! Being seen as a marketing part of the club does not shock Jan-Henrick Gruszecki. "What can I do about it?" He laughs. We're not going to start putting on blue! "