Women's football and sponsorship: Turbine Potsdam in the fight for support

Women's football and sponsorship: Turbine Potsdam in the fight for support

Women's football has become more and more focus in recent years, but he does not seem to be completely convincing the sponsors. In an honest interview, Karsten Ritter-Lang, President of Turbine Potsdam, explains the challenges and opportunities associated with sponsorship in women's football.

The discussion about sponsorship from women's football clubs shows that many companies have difficulty seeing a long -term perspective for themselves. According to Ritter-Lang, there is often a lack of visibility and a real marketing strategy. Nevertheless, there are signs that things could change. "The number of spectators in the stadiums is increasing and we see a growing interest in women's football," he explains. But despite these progress, he believes that many companies have simply not yet recognized the possibilities that women football offers.

hurdle visibility and structural challenges

One of the main problems is the national visibility of women's football. While the German Football Association (DFB) took a few steps to promote the women's league, there is a lack of comprehensive and sustainable campaign. "The visibility is crucial to win new fans and members," said Ritter-Lang. Companies must understand that they not only offer financial support, but also actively contribute to the visibility of sport.

The search for sponsors is also difficult by the size and awareness of the clubs with men's departments. "We are like David against Goliath," Ritter-Lang describes the situation. Large clubs often receive support from agencies and can fall back on a more established network. Turbine, on the other hand, has to take everything into your own hands, which often becomes a tedious process. Communication with potential sponsors is difficult; Of the 100 emails sent, there are usually only a few answers back, and most are negative feedback.

"We also worked with vouchers and crowdfunding to get additional support, but that's not enough," says Ritter-Lang and points to the need to ensure long-term and substantial financing. The association that worked with an important sponsor like the AOK now sees itself in search of new donors.

political phrases and the desire for equality

Ritter-Lang also addresses the difficulties of achieving equality in sport. "There are many political phrases, but the deeds are often not available," he criticizes. In order to create real equality, sponsors would have to be ready to provide the necessary financial means in order to reward players as well as their male colleagues. "If someone really wants equality, they should ask us how much we need to pay our players well," he says openly.

"The reality often looks very different," he adds. At Turbine Potsdam, the average financing is still far behind what is common in men's football. An increase in budgets and a rethinking of companies are essential so that women's football can develop and become a serious platform for sponsors.

The challenges in the sponsorship of women's football are diverse and range from visibility to the structural differences to the men's teams to the questions of equality and financial support. In order to build a successful partnership, companies should recognize and understand the tradition and connection of an association like Turbine Potsdam and understand what women's football can offer them.