“Due to its unmatched national impact and appeal, we consider the DFB Cup as the ideal property to extend our commitment to football in Germany. The association will enhance the positioning of Continental as a premium brand with the focus on safety and braking power.” Timo Röbbel, Continental’s Head of Sport Sponsorship for the German speaking markets
“With Continental, we have gained a new partner with an excellent reputation in football and a comprehensive international commitment to this sport. There is a perfect fit with our premium product, the DFB Cup and we are very much looking forward to the collaboration.” Denni Strich, DFB Marketing Director
“Both the property and the brand will benefit from one another. This new sponsorship is a win-win situation for all partners involved. The agreement demonstrates again the strong potential of the new DFB Cup marketing concept.” Stephan Herth, Infront’s Executive Director Summer Sports
Zug, Switzerland / Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 18 May 2010 – This year’s DFB Cup has just culminated in a thrilling final at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, yet already planning for the commercial success of future seasons is underway.
Infront Sports & Media, exclusive marketing partner of the German Football Association (DFB) for the DFB Cup, today announced a new Top Partner for Germany’s prestigious club competition. Continental, Europe’s second largest automotive supplier, is becoming one of four exclusive TOP Partners for two seasons, until 2011/2012. The company joins a line-up of premium sponsor brands including Deutsche Post, Bitburger and Jack Wolfskin.
Continental is already an established international player in football sponsorship. The brand is an Official Sponsor of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups™, but is also working towards enhancing its football activities on a national basis.
“Due to its unmatched national impact and appeal, we consider the DFB Cup as the ideal property to extend our commitment to football in Germany. The association will enhance the positioning of Continental as a premium brand with the focus on safety and braking power”, said Timo Röbbel, Continental’s Head of Sport Sponsorship for the German speaking markets. “The tournament delivers the best possible environment to involve our business customers in a wide variety of promotional activities, building customer loyalty through increased local presence.”
Extensive marketing opportunities The new TOP Partner agreement gives Continental a comprehensive rights package at all 63 matches of the DFB Cup, with advertising boards and other forms of exposure in camera view, as well as on-site promotional rights and many other effective opportunities in and around the arenas. Through an additional agreement with the DFB, Continental has also acquired the right to use the DFB brand for promotional purposes.
Denni Strich, DFB Marketing Director, said: “With Continental, we have gained a new partner with an excellent reputation in football and a comprehensive international commitment to this sport. There is a perfect fit with our premium product, the DFB Cup and we are very much looking forward to the collaboration.”
Stephan Herth, Infront’s Executive Director Summer Sports, added: “Both the property and the brand will benefit from one another. This new sponsorship is a win-win situation for all partners involved. The agreement demonstrates again the strong potential of the new DFB Cup marketing concept.”
About the DFB Cup The DFB Cup is an elimination tournament held annually. It dates back to 1935 and is today the second most important title in German Football after the Bundesliga championship. Last year, Infront and the DFB launched a new, centralised marketing structure, which is now successfully established. Infront handles all stadium advertising for all games centrally and the limited size of the TOP partner category – with just four companies - guarantees a level of exclusivity as yet unmatched in German football.
About Continental With sales of approximately €20 billion in 2009 Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, Continental contributes enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs approximately 138,000 staff in 46 countries.
Continental is the market leader in Europe for passenger and light truck tires. More than 30 percent of all new European cars leave the factory fitted with Continental tires. The tire divisions are an Official Sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and 2010 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. For further details, please go to www.ContiSoccerWorld.com.
About Infront Sports & Media Infront Sports & Media, based in Zug, Switzerland, has grown impressively in recent years and is today one of the leading international sports marketing agencies in the world. The company employs more than 500 employees across 24 offices in 10 countries and enjoys long-lasting partnerships with around 130 rights holders and hundreds of commercial partners.
With its subsidiary Infront Germany, based in Frankfurt/Main, it is one of the strongest agencies in the football marketing business in Germany, with a successful track record dating back 30 years. Infront Germany currently markets the commercial rights of four Bundesliga clubs (Werder Bremen, FC Schalke 04, VfL Bochum and SC Freiburg) as well as three clubs of the 2. Bundesliga (Energie Cottbus, Fortuna Düsseldorf and F.C. Hansa Rostock). During the 2008/2009 season, also Infront successfully distributed media and marketing rights to the UEFA Cup home matches of the national champion VfL Wolfsburg.
For further information, please contact:
Jörg Polzer Associate Director, Communication & PR Infront Sports & Media AG Tel. +41 41 723 15 15 Fax +41 41 723 15 16 pressinfrontsports.com
Alexander Lührs Head of Media and PR Passenger & Light Truck Tires Division Continental AG Tel.: +49 511 938 26 15 Fax: +49 511 938 24 55 Alexander.luehrsconti.de
