Zug, Switzerland / Gelsenkirchen, Germany, 8 December 2008 – Infront Sports & Media has announced the renewal and extension of the successful partnership between Infront Germany and leading German football club FC Schalke 04 by another 10 years, up to the 2017/18 season of the German Bundesliga. The new agreement covers the stadium advertising rights for the superb Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

Schalke 04 is one of the Bundesliga’s top football clubs and one of the most popular in Europe. In the last decade, it has been the runner-up in the Bundesliga three times, twice winner of the German DFB Cup and has qualified for the Champions League three times.

 

The club has a strong and loyal fan base with more than 75,000 registered members. It also has a highly respected management team. Since the opening of the new arena in August 2001, almost every game held in the Veltins Arena has been sold out. The stadium, with its retractable pitch, closable roof, moveable South Stand and video cube, is one of Europe's most modern, hi-tech multi-purpose arenas. This technology ensures that football matches can be reliably staged in front of 61,673 fans (more than 70,000 for pop concerts) 365 days a year.

 

Under the new agreement, the partnership between the two parties will be intensified. Both parties will collaborate on the overall marketing of the arena for all kinds of sports and entertainment events.

 

FC Schalke’s Managing Director, Peter Peters, said: “Infront has an impressive pedigree in football at international, national and club level. We are confident that this experience will bring many benefits to the club and a closer relationship will enable us to work together on many new areas of marketing the arena.”

 

Stephan Herth, Infront’s Executive Director, Summer Sports, said: “This agreement is very important to Infront Germany – it gives the prospect of a strong, productive, long-term relationship between two partners who respect each other. This is the kind of agreement that we know, from experience, will produce the best possible results.”

 

About Infront Germany
Infront Germany, based in Frankfurt/Main, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infront Sports & Media, is one of the leading companies in the stadium advertising business in Germany. It has a successful track record dating back 30 years. It currently markets the stadium advertising and/or media rights of five clubs in Germany, including four Bundesliga clubs FC Schalke 04 (Veltins Arena), Werder Bremen (Weser-Stadion), VfL Bochum (rewirpowerSTADION), VfL Wolfsburg (media rights Uefa competitions) as well as one club of the 2. Bundesliga, Hansa Rostock (DKB-Arena). In Rostock, Infront Germany also offers first-class hospitality opportunities. http://www.infrontsports.de

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Jörg Polzer
Manager, Communication & PR
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
press infrontsports.com
www.infrontsports.com

 

Gerd Voss
Head of Press & PR
FC Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04 e.V.
Tel. +49-209-36 18-188
Fax +49-209-36 18-179
Mobil: +49-170-63 88 404
gerd.voss schalke04.de
www.schalke04.de