BVB have often been at the forefront of things on the field. They were the first club to become champions twice with exactly the same eleven; they were the first German club to win in Europe in 1966, and the first Champions League winners in 1997. And now, in October 2000, off the field BVB once again take the lead becoming the first German Bundesliga club to float on the stock market. The opening price on the Frankfurt market was eleven Euros.

This move was made possible following a decision taken at the annual general meeting on 28 November 1999. It was decided to re-create the club into a joint-stock company. The aim of this move and floating on the stock exchange is to strengthen the club’s finances which will allow, in turn, the club to compete internationally. BVB president Dr Gerd Niebaum described the club’s going public as its second Birthday adding, „If a club like BVB can mix it with the big boys in Europe not just for the next two or three years but over the next fifteen then this move can be viewed as a success.“