Watzke: BVB Will Tour USA in 2018

Today, in his address to club members at the Westfalenhalle, Borussia Dortmund’s Chief Executive Officer, Hans -Joachim Watzke announced that the club would tour the USA in 2018. After concentrating on expanding its international market-share in Asia for the past two years, and the next, Dortmund plans to conquer the Americas next. They run against stiff competition against the likes of the already well-established English Premier League, who are really the gold standard when it comes to international marketing, and media narrative; as well as against fellow Bundesliga giant Bayern München who have long been the international face of the Bundesliga in the modern new-media era. But, with the success of the high-flying, gegenpressing Klopp era, Borussia Dortmund captured a foothold of romantic contrarians who were captivated by the style of play and the passionate fan culture of the club. Dortmund seeks to capitalize on that as well as the presence of Christian Pulisic.

So, does this mean the 18-year old American wunderkind will be to the USA what Shinji Kagawa has been to BVB’s ambitions in Asia? It is incredible to see how much Bayer Leverkusen and to a lesser extent Eintracht Frankfurt have grown their profiles in the USA by adding the two Mexican players in Chicharito Hernandez and Marco Fabian. And lastly, does this mean BVB have no plans to sell the highly sought-for Pulisic who has already attracted transfer rumors from Liverpool and Barcalona? We can only hope so.