April 7 – German club Borussia Dortmund is always at the forefront of innovative ideas, and their latest partnership pairs football with the pig-skin variety of football as they have collaborated with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).
This partnership is a first-of-its-kind and complements the shared working-class, industrial roots of both cities. The focus will center on attracting new fans from each club, sharing and developing content, and business cooperation.
Dortmund and the Steelers will also share their respective sports with the Germans, providing clinics, while the Steelers will demonstrate Flag Football, which is an Olympic sport in 2028.
This marks the first formal cross-sport collaboration for both clubs and is part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program, under which the Steelers were granted commercial rights in Germany in 2024.
Dan Rooney, Director of Business Development and Strategy at the Pittsburgh Steelers, highlighted the long-term potential of the initiative:
“This partnership supports our joint mission of reaching new fans and expanding the visibility of both Pittsburgh and Dortmund as global sports cities.”
With Dortmund a presence in New York City after opening up a business office to oversee commercial activities across North America, partnering with a gridiron team was the next logical move.
According to Marc Lingenhoff, managing director of BVB Americas: “This partnership goes beyond football. The Steelers represent many of the values we share at BVB, and together we aim to bring sport, community, and culture together in a meaningful way.”
In 2022, the cities signed an inter-municipal innovation agreement, and this new partnership solidifies the growing relationship between the Steel City and Stahlstadt, German for Steel City.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1745821418labto1745821418ofdlr1745821418owedi1745821418sni@o1745821418fni1745821418