Kaiserslautern / 6 June 2008 – 1. FC Kaiserslautern and SPORTFIVE have signed an early extension of their comprehensive marketing cooperation. The Hamburg based sports rights agent will continue to handle all of the second-league football club's marketing matters in close cooperation with the club's officers. A team of six headed by Heiko Schelberg will be responsible for sponsor recruitment and relations, and will from now on handle the marketing for all VIP seats at the Fritz Walter Stadium as well. The cooperation agreement has initially been signed through 2014.
SPORTFIVE has introduced a number of marketing innovations in the past four years. For instance, the launch of the "Herzblut" partner level opened up a whole new sponsorship platform for regional SMEs. Ten partners have already been recruited at this level. The SPORTFIVE team also came up with the concept for the new FCK ClubLounge 100 as a particularly exclusive VIP area, which sold out right away in the first season. Add to that the introduction of a contemporary perimeter-board layout/structure incl. behind-the-goal revolving boards.
"After intensive negotiations with a number of agencies, we decided to stay with our present partner, SPORTFIVE," said Stefan Kuntz, Chairman of 1. FC Kaiserslautern. "SPORTFIVE responded beautifully to our current situation and our specific requirements, and we made this important, forward-looking decision during some very constructive talks. SPORTFIVE is a tremendously experienced partner with an excellent network, a very motivated team and enormous football marketing expertise. FCK can only benefit from this."
"We are very glad that we were able to convince the people in charge at 1. FC Kaiserslautern with our work and our concept," emphasises Thomas Röttgermann, managing director of SPORTFIVE. "FCK is not only the figurehead of the region, but also a very special brand with fantastic stadium atmosphere. The appointment of Stefan Kuntz as its new chairman, and the cementing of the team's league status are two milestones of the past season."