Westfalenstadion was built to serve as a playing venue for the 1974 World Cup.
Until then Dortmund had played their home matches at Stadion Rote Erde, and while an expansion of that stadium was first considered, in the end was chosen to build a new stadium all together.

The redevelopment of the stadium was completed between 2002 and 2003 when all four corners got closed up with stands. Two years later, in 2005, the stadium changed name to Signal Iduna Park as a result of a sponsorship deal.