Sometimes two partners are simply made for each other. And that is indisputably true for BVB and Dortmund Stadtwerke AG – DSW21. So it is only logical that the two local top dogs are extending their cooperation, which focuses on "sustainability", and for all intents and purposes has been in existence for decades, but has been laid down in a specific contract since the beginning of 2021 – a big year for the network bearing the same number – until the end of the 2023/24 season. BVB managing director Carsten Cramer and Guntram Pehlke, CEO of DSW21, put pen to paper on the contract extension a few days ago.

"21 is more than a symbolic number on the back of one of our shirts. As a corporate network which operates local public transport in Dortmund and the surrounding area, it is just a part of the DNA of Dortmund as BVB. We will use the extension of the partnership to make the most of our home advantage together," Cramer emphasised. 

Pehlke said: "The partnership with BVB in the landmark year for the family brand 21 has given us a high level of visibility, which will enable us to continue to achieve many common goals together in future. Environmental protection, sustainability, equal opportunities and social commitment. In short: an even better Dortmund for all – that is and will always be a team task that we are happy to tackle together with Borussia Dortmund."

The club and the corporation – both of which are steeped in tradition – have in fact been working closely together in different fields for many years. For example, DSW21 – at least in times not dominated by the coronavirus pandemic – uses buses and light rail to transport between 30,000 and 35,000 fans to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK and back home on every single match day in Dortmund. This saves more than 3,000 tons of CO2 per season when you add up the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League.

In addition, DSW21, as an investor and building contractor, developed the training ground and the BVB youth performance centre in Brackel, leased it to Borussia, and has now handed over some of it to the club. Most recently, the administrative office for sports was completed in the summer of 2020. "What is the background behind the cooperation?", you might ask. When, at the height of the financial crisis in 2005, the Black and Yellows had to set up a youth performance centre in order to obtain the license, the municipal utilities company provided the funds. DSW21 real estate manager Silke Seidel, in charge of the development of the "Hohenbuschei" area, also jumped in as project manager this year when it came to the reconstruction of the BVB museum "Borusseum". And her endeavours bore fruit, as it will finally be reopened soon.

The list of successful joint projects goes on: From spring to autumn 2021, the Corona test bus drove to the BVB's operating sites from DSW21 so that employees could be tested directly at their workplace. On the occasion of its ten-year anniversary, the Dortmund transport company gave the black and yellow light rail a completely new strip and brought a second vehicle into the line network with the BVB legend rail as part of the campaign by the family brand 21. Since February, so the airport tower at the eastern entrance to the city has really put both brands in the spotlight. And finally, the municipal group has been a partner of the new women's football era at BVB from day one. As such, 21 has sponsored for the broadcasts of the women's team's home games on Borussia's wide-reaching Twitch channel since the start of the season. 

The partners also go hand in hand when it comes to social commitment. For example, DSW21 donated €25,000 to the BVB Foundation "leuchte auf!" this year, while Carsten Cramer is a member of the jury in the DSW21 funding competition #dortMUT. Within this framework, the municipal utilities support projects of clubs and non-profit organisations by providing €84,000 each year. Next spring, both will start a trainee project together with other Dortmund partners, which aims at tackling racism and anti-Semitism. "All of this impressively proves that our cooperation is not only on paper, but is something we are true to in everyday life," said Guntram Pehlke and Carsten Cramer.

Sometimes two partners are simply made for each other…

Photo: BVB managing directors Carsten Cramer and Guntram Pehlke, CEO of DSW21, put pen to paper for the extension of the sustainability partnership until the end of the 2023/24 season.