On the sidelines, another attendance record was broken. 50,000 people attended the Dortmund Carol Service "Dortmund singt Weihnachtslieder". It was sold-out! The SIGNAL IDUNA PARK was jam-packed for the slightly more reflective event.

Tranquil tones reverberated around the stadium, replacing the usual cheers for the Borussia Dortmund players. A fabulously decorated Christmas tree occupied a stage in the lower tier of the east stand, the lights were set low. It is the second time since 2017 that BVB has opened its doors to the "Dortmund singt Weihnachtslieder" carol service to help get in the mood for the festive season.

The total capacity for Germany's largest football stadium is capacity 81,365 but it was capped to 50,000 spectators in order to squeeze in a stage with a bandstand that everyone taking part could see.

German classics such as "Leise rieselt der Schnee", "Fröhliche Weihnacht überall" along with "White Christmas and "Jingle Bells" were part of the evening's repertoire. The BVB Anthem "Leuchte auf mein Stern, Borussia" and the football classic "You'll never walk alone" rounded off the evening.

Formula 1 commentator Heiko Wasser sat in for Norbert Dickel who underwent a knee operation ten days ago and wasn't able to watch the ceremony as he did the Bundesliga game against Bremen, seated in a wheelchair. Heiko led the evening slot which saw performances from Popstar Sasha, ESC singer Michael Schulte, Jo Marie Dominiak and actor Wotan Wilke Möhring. 

Aside from current BVB stars, numerous heroes from the past attended the celebration: Wolfgang Paul, Siegfried Held, Michael Zorc, Wolfgang de Beer, Lars Ricken, Frank Mill, Michael Lusch, Jörg Heinrich and Roman Weidenfeller. A large part of the proceeds will this year once again go towards various social causes and charities in Dortmund.

(br)