Published on January 30th, 2023

Location: Germany

VfB Stuttgart Focuses On Marketing Growth Strategy

VfB Stuttgart is setting its marketing course for growth and will be working with sports rights marketer SPORTFIVE from the coming season. To this end, VfB and SPORTFIVE have developed an innovative marketing model.

VfB will retain full responsibility for looking after existing sponsors and partners and for implementing the marketing rights, while SPORTFIVE will be jointly responsible for selling these rights in the future.

SPORTFIVE will support the acquisition of sponsors, partners and the development of new marketing products, including in the digital and sustainability context, with a dedicated VfB team in Stuttgart. The result is a joint marketing unit that combines VfB's regional network and experience with new marketing approaches, sales strength, and know-how from SPORTFIVE.

VfB retains all marketing rights in its own hands and continues to be the direct contractual partner for existing and potential sponsors. This means that VfB retains full decision-making authority in all commercial matters. The contract runs for an initial period of five years up to and including the 2027/28 season. In addition to the further development of the content of the marketing area and significant increases in revenue, this cooperation also gives VfB greater planning security in terms of sponsorship income as well as immediate income through an agreed signing fee.

Alexander Wehrle, Chairman of the Board of Management of VfB Stuttgart: "We have ambitious goals in marketing. Both in traditional sponsorship, new digital products and content formats, and the stadium as a platform for events, we need to exploit VfB's potential more fully in order to strengthen our economic foundation. In SPORTFIVE, we have found a partner with outstanding expertise who wants to successfully go down a new path with us. This is the perfect solution for all sides."

"We have ambitious goals in marketing. Both in traditional sponsorship, new digital products and content formats, and the stadium as a platform for events, we need to exploit VfB's potential more fully in order to strengthen our economic foundation."


Alexander Wehrle, Chairman of the Board of Management of VfB Stuttgart

Rouven Kasper, Director of Marketing & Sales at VfB Stuttgart: "SPORTFIVE complements us excellently in a challenging market situation in line with VfB's lived strategy. To describe this in automotive language that suits Stuttgart: We keep the steering wheel of marketing, from the product to the support and implementation of sponsors and partners fully in our hands, that is, from the bodywork, to the transmission and turning of the tires. However, with a new sales structure together with SPORTFIVE, we are putting in place a more powerful engine that will accelerate us much faster in marketing and move us forward. This is essential for the development of our VfB and an absolute win-win situation."

Hendrik Schiphorst, Managing Director at SPORTFIVE Germany: "We have been in a close, productive exchange with VfB Stuttgart for some time and are very pleased to have developed an individual model with which we can actively support the club in the future. Here, each partner can play to its strengths: We provide additional sales power for VfB, while the club retains overall responsibility and can concentrate fully on the commercial marketing strategy as well as the support of its existing customers and partner management. With its history and its vision for the future, VfB Stuttgart is an absolute beacon in the region and of national and, in the future, increasing international relevance. We are very proud to be able to support VfB Stuttgart in the future with our sales and development perspective regionally as well as nationally and internationally."

  • About SPORTFIVE

    SPORTFIVE is a global sports marketing agency that delivers customer-centric solutions based on trust and transparency, deep industry experience and global relationships, digital intelligence and innovation. SPORTFIVE strategically and creatively connects brands, rightsholders, media platforms and fans to create and enable contemporary partnerships in sports.

    While creating and growing long-term value for all, SPORTFIVE often leads the sports business into the future through innovative digital solutions and strives to be the most progressive and respected partner in sports.

    Being at the centre of professional sport SPORTFIVE will use its unique position, in order to make a positive contribution to sustainability and to live up to the social and economic duty and responsibility, which sport and consequently all parties involved, also have. SPORTFIVE operates with a global mindset and network of over 1,200 local experts based in 15 countries around the world, active in Football, Golf, Esports, Motorsport, Handball, Tennis, American Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Rugby, Olympics and Multi-Sport Events and many more.

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