After 376 days of renovation, the Rote Erde stadium will once again host a football game this Saturday (14:00 CET), as the Borussia Dortmund U23s host Halleschen FC in the 3. Liga. The match will be the first this season to be held in the historic stadium.

The last game to be held at the Rote Erde stadium was on 21 March last year, when the Borussia Dortmund U23s fell to a 1-0 loss to Eintracht Braunschweig. The Black & Yellows then played their final three home games of the 2021/22 season in SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.

At the end of March, the city of Dortmund, the owner of the Rote Erde, began the reconstruction of the stadium. A new drainage scheme and a turf heating system, which is mandatory for clubs playing in the 3. Liga, were installed. In addition, the renovation of the historic stadium, which was first opened in 1926, was completed with the laying of a new surface.

Before that, however, the builders had to fill countless old coal shafts with concrete, as these had caused the ground to become porous over the past few years. This task took some time, meaning that the new surface could only be laid at the beginning of this week.

"We are looking forward to playing back at our home," says U23 coach Jan Zimmermann, who is set to sit in the dugout at the Rote Erde for the first time. One person who knows the ground well is U23 captain Franz Pfanne: "I know how amazing it can be when lots of fans come to the stadium to support us. Many of the boys haven't even played there yet, so we're looking forward to Saturday!"

In addition to the U23s, the Borussia Dortmund women's team will soon return to playing their home games at the Rote Erde stadium. The exact timeframe for this has yet to be confirmed. 

The following U23 home fixtures this season will be held at the Rote Erde:

SA, 01.04.2023 14:00 CET U23s vs. Hallescher FC

SA, 15.04.2023 14:00 CET U23 vs. SV Meppen

SA, 29.04.2023 14:00 CET U23 vs. SV 07 Elversberg

SA, 20.05.2023 14:00 CET U23 vs. SpVgg Bayreuth

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