With a heads-up from Sebastian Schneider at Dortmund Fan Department, we got five tickets for the Fox Sports Oktoberfest Broadcast. We were up early and decked out for the occasion.
In typical TV fashion, it was show up and wait three hours, but we got to hang with some very nice Bayern fans. Actually it was about 30 very nice Bayern Fans. It was, after all, the Oktoberfest Broadcast of Bayern v. Augsburg.
Five minutes on air, yelling and waving banners, then meet and greet.
Hosts were, as always, Kate Abdo, Ian Joy and Alexi Lalas.
Kate was absolutely bubbly and lovely in her Dirndl. You can have issues with the Fox Bundesliga crew, but they do dress well.
Ian was excited about his upcoming Sankt Pauli announcing gig. In retrospect the Hamburg Derby was only exciting for the last 10 minutes, but I’m sure he had a great time.
And also Alexi. I finally got to give him my opinion of his constant “Pulisic must go to the Premier League” blather. Puli’s not going anywhere! Just shut up already. He’s only just earned a starting position.
A great time all around at the Fox Studios. Big thanks to Jeff Heyman, Amy Burns and Venice Tshimanga. Hoping to do it again soon. Maybe November 10? That might be a big match this year.
We did it! First contacted in January and hosting Borussia Dortmund in May. Thanks again to Sebastian Schneider, Carsten Cramer, Annika Gollub, Benedict, Rich Orosco, Patrick Aviles, and everyone in BVBLA. We turned out quite a crowd.
Three Years
It was the Winter of 2014 and two of us got together to watch a match. The team was headed for the Relegation Zone and Klopp would soon announce his leaving. Nobody could accuse us of being bandwagon fans.
We’ve met at Wirtshaus, The Cock ‘n’ Bull, The Scarlet Lady and Ye King’s Head; but we’ve always considered Wirtshaus to be our home.
We’ve sent our Roster to Dortmund with all of our club information for three years. We never heard back from them…until this year. This will be the year that Borussia Dortmund breaks into the USA.
Borussia Dortmund and LAFC
Carsten, Deike, Steven, Marion, Liam, Dmytro, Joseph, Julia
We were contacted in January by the BVB Fan Department. They were planning an event with LAFC to announce a partnership. Could we get our Club to turn out? Of course we could. So we all went downtown and got some wonderful news.
Three Days
From there we waited. We would get our own section, but when? We would get a chance to meet the players, but what would that be? Most importantly: when will the match be scheduled? At first we were expecting July, during a break in the ICC schedule. Then we were told late May, but the Pokal Finale date had to be reserved.
When the date was finally settled we had three weeks to plan, with dates and times not yet settled for flights, parties, training or ticket sales.
Meet The Flight
We had to meet the flight. We were prepared for 3pm on a Sunday. Then the flight was delayed for four hours. Could we still get out a crowd?
Of course we could. Banners, singing and pestering Mario for autographs.
Monday
Monday started at 11 with a Public Training at UCLA. Every player was there and we turned out 400 or so fans. The players were open to autographs and took the time to meet everyone.
Next was Niky’s in Santa Monica. Originally planned for 40 people, everyone got in eventually and (I think) dropped some cash on some BVB gear while watching a Q&A with Lars Ricken, Roman Weidenfeller, Marcel Schmelzer and Mario Götze.
Monday night was the Fan Party hosted by LAFC and Dortmund. At least 100 of us made it to watch Alicia play Foosball with Schmelle. They didn’t win, but it was OK. We all had a few beers and got to chat with Schmelle, Roman and Patrick Owomoyela.
The Match
Finally, the day of the Match. No events, players all surfing or wandering around in Venice. Before the match the 125 and 126 sections were full. Steven Boll had prepared the megaphone and the chanting began. At 6:51pm it was “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and at 7pm it was game time. How was the match? Best game ever!
Thanks again to everyone who helped make this happen!
Sing-a-long Lunch was great. Thanks to everyone who attended. Besides “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Heja BVB!” and “Olé, Jetzt Kommt der BVB,” we have nine simple chants and songs for the match. Steven Boll will be leading from section 122, so join in! The full list will be posted on Facebook tonight.
All the Events
May 20, 3:05pm – Team Arrival at LAX
PLANE DELAYED! 7PM!
Meet at Arrivals, International Terminal by 7pm. Bring flags and scarves and anything you want a signature on. Be ready for “Olé, Jetzt Kommt der BVB” when they appear.
May 21, 11am – Dortmund open training at UCLA
This will be at the North Soccer Field, just north of the John Wooden Student Center. Park in Parking 4 underground (free event, paid parking). 70 minute training scheduled. Once again, bring the kids and anything you want signed.
Hosted by Puma. If you’re not on the list, you can show up anyway and eat at the BVB food truck. Photos, jerseys for sale and a player Q&A. This is the only place in LA with all the latest BVB gear.
Tickets not necessary. Just be there early. Only room for 200 and expecting 300. Meet some of the players and watch Liam go all Fanboy over Emma. I swear: anytime I’m anywhere near Emma, somebody has to take my picture. That is an order.
May 22, 7pm – LAFC vs Borussia Dortmund – Banc of California Stadium
We have sections 125 and 126 in the South Corner. The visitors entrance is in the Southeast corner. Less than 20 tickets left. Buy tickets here. We get one Megaphone (Steven) one drum (John) and 15 flags. If you’re bringing a flag, it must be on a PVC pole no longer than 5 feet and you must enter in the visitors gate.
Food Truck
The PUMA – BVB Foodtruck is touring around LA:
May 19 – 5:00pm – 9:00pm – Fontana Concert in the Park
May 21 – 11:00am – 1:30pm – Ocean & 31st – 2929 31st St., Santa Monica, CA 90405
May 21 – 2:30pm – 4:00pm – Niky’s Santa Monica
May 22 – 11:00am – 2:00pm – Tri Centre Food Trucks – 650 E Hospitality Ln, San Bernardino
May 22 – 5:00pm– 10:00pm – Banc of California Stadium
May 23 – 11:00 – 2:00 pm – Heritage Corporate Center – 10350 Heritage Park Dr, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
May 23 – 4:00 – 10:00pm – Common Space LA – 3411 W. El segundo Blvd., Hawthorne CA 90250
Carsten, Evita, Deike, Steven, Marion, Liam, Dmytro, Joseph, Julia
The Borussia Dortmund Los Angeles Fan Club wants to thank everyone involved in last nights festivities: Carsten Cramer (BVB), Annika Gollub (BVB), Rich Orosco (LAFC), Patrick Aviles (LAFC) and especially all the members of the 3252. Thanks for all the drumming and singing!
So…what was all the excitement? Borussia Dortmund has arrived in the US and are looking to make a big splash. They have worked with LAFC from the beginning; from Stadium design to team culture. With the Banc California Stadium almost finished and LAFC acquiring players (and a Manager) for the next MLS season, the time was right for the big announcement:
Borussia Dortmund will play a friendly with LAFC to open the new stadium.
Of course, there’s even more:
There will be Fan Events to meet the players
Emma and Nobby Dickel will be here
Dortmund will play two matches in the US ICC (TBA)
The BVB U19 will be in Los Angeles for a mini-Tournament
Carsten, Evita, Deike, Steven, Marion, Liam, Dmytro, Julia, Joseph
…and BVBLA will be in the middle of all of it. Please sign up for the mailing list and like us on Facebook to be kept up to date as these events unfold.
When the date is announced we will be preparing a list for tickets. The LAFC fans will fill the North Wall. Fittingly, we’ve been offered the South Wall. We’ll need 2000 or so dressed in Yellow and Black, and ready to rock!
Perhaps you are a “new to BVB” fan. You must be a bit confused at this point. If you are an American, you may be wondering “How is my darling Christian Pulisic going to shine in all this chaos?” If you are one of our Asian members, you may want to know if Shinji will get more or less love in the next season. Read on.
Last season we lost three great players. Ilkay was acceptable, he was mostly injured anyway. Mats was understandable. He was, in his mind, returning home. Miki? Screw him and his Manager 🙂
Speaking of Managers, we dropped a very successful Manager the day after a Pokal win. It was not a good look. One would think that Herr Watzke would have someone lined up after a stunt like that, but that was not to be. Eventually we settled on Peter Bosz, and everybody seems to be happy and looking ahead.
This Summer feels different. Zorc seems determined to buy all the young talent in Europe. Last season’s buying spree was mixed: Dembélé and Guerreiro were gems; Bartra showed great promise; Götze and Schürrle were injured; Merino, Rode and Mor never showed up. Worth it? yes!
At a time when we looked pretty set, Management has begun another buying spree. Isak came in early but never played. Dahoud and Toprak were “pre-signed” before the end of the season. Now Zagadou and Maximilian Philipp. This team looks stacked.
Some players will have to leave. Park may be out, if he likes. Subotic is back from loan and will probably be sold. Ginter looks like he needs a change of scenery. Rode could be a valuable commodity along with Bender. Mor and/or Passlack may benefit from a loan. But hey…none of those are the one you want to know about, are they?
Yes! By all indications, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is leaving. He is 27 and in his prime. He’s always indicated that he would like to play for Real Madrid one day. That does not seem likely with Benzema and Morata there, so now it seems he’ll “settle” for Paris. Bild reports (shorthand for “probably not true”) that they will get him for €70 and will double his salary.
But…it’s looking more and more like this will not happen. The more these deals are reported the more Zorc says “no offers have been made.” It would be a silly move for PSG, spending a fortune on a player they have no position for and isn’t their first choice. China seems out of the question.
Also said to be leaving is Shinji Kagawa. Don’t believe it. He’s currently in form and looking to sign a new contract. Plus, Bosz will be eager to try out his Japanese on him.
Others may go out on loan, or be sold. It happens. Believe it when you hear it from bvb.de and believe the opposite when you hear it from Bild.
So hey, enjoy the Summer and we’ll see you for the Super Cup: August 5 at Wirtshaus. Ous, Christian, Shinji, Weigel…all your favorites will be there. This is the team of the future.
The last event of the season held at our favorite Restaurant. This is the last time to see the team that Tuchel built in action. Join us for beer and schnitzel and Miki and Auba and Marco and Shinji and…
It seems like every week I’m saying “this is the biggest match of the season.” Well…this is the biggest match of the season. There is no reason that we shouldn’t beat Liverpool and move on to the semi-finals, but…
This Event will be televised at Wirtshaus on La Brea and at the Cock’n Bull in Santa Monica. Most of us have to take some time off from work on Thursdays and will choose the most convenient pub.
A different sort of season for Hamburg as they are not in danger of relegation. Meanwhile, Dortmund are having the best season in history and are not going to win the BL. All we can do is enjoy it.
Join us in Santa Monica before sunrise for Scottish Breakfast and coffee. Guinness if you can handle it 🙂
Is the #2 team in the Premier League so beaten down and demoralized by our resounding home victory that they cannot give us trouble in England? Probably not. Plus: it’s Schnitzel Month at Wirtshaus! Please join BVBLA for a long and enjoyable lunch.
In typical TV fashion, it was show up and wait three hours, but we got to hang with some very nice Bayern fans. Actually it was about 30 very nice Bayern Fans. It was, after all, the Oktoberfest Broadcast of Bayern v. Augsburg.
Kate was absolutely bubbly and lovely in her Dirndl. You can have issues with the Fox Bundesliga crew, but they do dress well.
And also Alexi. I finally got to give him my opinion of his constant “Pulisic must go to the Premier League” blather. Puli’s not going anywhere! Just shut up already. He’s only just earned a starting position.
