Borussia Dortmund and Evonik Industries AG have agreed to extend their main sponsorship contract until the end of the 2012/2013 season. The current contract would have expired in the summer of 2011.
At a press conference at the Signal Iduna Park, Dr Klaus Engel, chairman of the executive board of Evonik Industries AG, named a number of reasons for extending the contract with the club. Evonik regard BVB as one of the most popular and most renowned German professional clubs to have as a partner, "who´s also having many fans among our company´s workforce."
Borussia also have Germany´s biggest stadium and the highest attendances in the league. A total of 1.3 million fans watched BVB´s home games this season with an almost unbelievable average of 77.260 spectators per game, which is also a best in Europe.
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For Evonik, however, there are still even more important criteria to be considered to become the sponsor of a company. Evonik´s sponsorship of BVB, who have one of the highest sympathy ratings in the Bundesliga, contributed significantly to "making the name of our new industrial group known across Germany and it was achieved in a pleasant way," said Engel.
At the end of last year, almost every second decision-maker from the commercial and finance industries knew that Evonik are the sponsor of BVB, 18 months before it only had been one in three. The sympathy ratings for the brand Evonik have also risen considerably in the same period. And these figures should not only be kept, but improved. "To achieve that, the years six and seven of our BVB commitment will make an important contribution," emphasised Engel.
The company leader was particularly pleased with the last two years in which the club and team management have initiated a great process. "We follow the combination of economic sense and best-possible success on the pitch with respect and sympathy," said Engel.
BVB chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said: "We are pleased to continue to have one of the most creative and most committed sponsors of the league at our side." In 2006, Evonik joined Borussia Dortmund in times of difficulty. "That was the beginning of a great partnership and a successful and common path," said Watzke. He was sure, he said, that both sides would do everything possible in the future to keep this partnership alive by brining in joy, energy and lifeblood.
