Lunow: “We are aware of our responsibility”

BVB President Dr. Reinhold Lunow has made it his task to strengthen internal communication between the departments of the registered association. A first step was to move into new offices in the Westfalen-Center in the immediate vicinity of the offices on the Rheinlanddamm, which had become too small for the partnership limited by shares (KGaA) and the registered association (e.V.) departments together. Lunow expects to strengthen external communication by relaunching the BVB homepage, which is planned for the first half of 2024: “We are facing the challenge of shaping and maintaining a lively club for what is now almost 190,000 members. Digital communication channels play a decisive role in this. My goal is to further strengthen and expand our digital presence.”

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Another area with room for improvement is the hall situation, especially for the handball players, who may have to play their home games outside the city walls from 2025 onwards because there is no venue available that meets the requirements of the league. Lunow made a heartfelt plea to the responsible parties in the city: “We at BVB, but also the city of Dortmund, are called upon to act. This team must be able to continue to play their games in the sporting city of Dortmund in the future! Anything else would be a damning indictment for all those involved.”

The Code of Core Values introduced last year passed a legal review. Dr. Lunow stated: “The expert opinion confirmed that the principles and objectives of BVB, as laid down in our Articles of Association and the Code of Core Values, are also enshrined in the Articles of Association of Borussia Dortmund Geschäftsführungs-GmbH and BVB KGaA, and thus have a binding effect on the management of the KGaA. This means that the management of the limited liability company (GmbH) may not make any decisions that would lead, for example, to leaving the Bundesliga, the sale of significant shares of the management company (Geschäftsführungs-GmbH) to third parties or to the change of our home venue or club colours.”

Diversity and anti-discrimination were also key themes in the President’s speech, which drew much applause: “BVB are committed to football and a society without racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, sexism, violence and discrimination of any kind. The values set out in the Code of Core Values are of fundamental importance to the Board and we will not be moved from this position. As a world-renowned club with a strong profile and vast reach, we are aware of our social responsibility. It can be a challenge to reconcile sporting or economic goals with our values and social responsibility, but you can be sure that the Board will always align its decisions and actions to respect and preserve our values and identity.”

“We have left the Valley of Darkness, which cost us €151 million. I will not forget the Covid-19 period,” Hans-Joachim Watzke said in the report of the KGaA and gave an insight into the “sleepless nights”, especially in spring 2020: “When will we have to let the first employees go?” We all know the ultimate outcome: “We did not fire anyone or place anyone on short-time work to pass our problems on to the state.” In the 2022/2023 financial year, the KGaA generated turnover of €418 million (with transfers of around €500 million), and with a net profit of €9.55 million, we are back in the black. “We are really back in business!” Currently, according to Watzke, the company’s equity totals €335 million. Watzke also assured: “There will be no Borussia Dortmund in any Super League. That is as certain hearing Amen in church.”

Treasurer Bernd Möllmann was pleased to announce an increase of 21,000 members and stressed: “The profile of our BVB is growing ever stronger. Our members are the basis for everything – for our success and cooperation.” The registered association (e.V.) closed the 2022/23 financial year with a deficit of €951,000. Personnel expenses amounted to €3.9 million. However, there are no liabilities to financial institutions. Looking ahead to the current financial year, Möllmann stressed: “We are currently expecting a high six-figure profit.”

The AGM elected two new honorary members: former mayor Dr. Gerhard Langemeyer and former chairman of the supporters’ association Olaf Suplicki, who has dedicated many years of service to BVB. The work of the auditors Gerd Kolbe and Roman Weidenfeller was approved unanimously, as was that of the entire Board.
Boris Rupert

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