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The first documented mention of Dortmund dates back to between 880 and 890. In the 13th century, Dortmund was one of the wealthiest and most powerful cities in the Hanseatic League. As a Free Imperial City in the 18th century, Dortmund had to swear allegiance to the new monarch each time a king was enthroned, and petition confirmation of its rights and privileges.
With the downfall of the old German Empire, the Imperial City of Dortmund lost its autonomy, and was occupied soon after by the French. The introduction of Bavarian brewing techniques in 1845 led to the establishment of modern large-scale beer brewing facilities. Major industrial advances, such as the "blowing in" of the first blast furnace in the Dortmund area, heralded the ascent of heavy industry.
Between 1871 and 1873, three collieries commenced coal mining. With a population that had grown to 140,000, Dortmund entered the 20th century as the largest and most important industrial city in the Ruhr area. Bomb raids during World War II destroyed 95 percent of the old inner city and 60 percent of the residential areas. Dortmund was rebuilt by the 1960's, and is now an internationally renowned centre of technology, research and culture, forming the heart of Westphalia.
Sports are enormously popular among the population of Dortmund: More than 135,000 sports activists are organized in 600 sports clubs. The outstanding club in the football sector is 1997 UEFA Champions League winner and 1997 Cup winner Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund has hosted outstanding sporting events (1989 world table tennis championship, 1989 German swimming championship, 1990 DJK national sports festival, and the 28th German Gymnastics Meeting in 1990), and is the location of major annual international events such as the Dortmund Six Day Race, the International Riding and Jumping Competition and the DJV Track and Field Meeting.
Major Events at the Dortmund Westfalenstadion
- 1974 World Cup
- Nine international football matches
- UEFA Cup Final 2001
- Home of Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund with national, European and intercontinental matches
Stadium: Westfalenstadion
2006 Capacity: 67,000 Seats
Known nationwide as the Bundesliga’s opera-house, the Westfalenstadion was originally built for the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Borussia Dortmund play their home games here in front of what is almost always a sell-out crowd. Some 25,000 of these fans roar on their beloved Borussia from the famous South Stand, renowned for striking fear into the hearts of the visitors.
In November 2001, the decision was taken to join up the four separate stands, thus increasing the seating capacity to around 69,000. Crucially, the new stands will stop above the existing video screens, allowing further ventilation for the pitch. Construction work began in May 2002 with completion projected for late summer 2003.
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