Rheinmetall becomes BVB's surprising new sponsor.

Days prior to the Champions League final, Borussia Dortmund created a stir with a sponsorship pact. Rheinmetall, a defense contractor, will support the BVB for the upcoming three years. Both parties confirmed the development.

The financial details were not disclosed by a spokesperson from the Düsseldorf company; however, as stated by "Handelsblatt," it entails a high single-digit million-euro amount each year. The relationship encompasses utilizing high-reach advertising spaces, marketing rights, in addition to event and hospitality proposals at the stadium and team premises. Rheinmetall will become the "Champion Partner" of BVB, a designation that deems the club's maximum monetary sponsor.

BVB gears up for critique

BVB CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke articulated that security and defense are pillars of democracy. "As such, we consider it fitting to focus intently on how we can protect these pillars," said Watzke. Dortmund club members are looking forward to the partnership and embracing a conversation as Borussia Dortmund. Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger was pleased with the deal. "BVB and Rheinmetall are two partners whose aspirations, dispositions, and origins align," said the defense executive.

The dialogue that Watzke mentioned could emerge at an inconvenient time and shift focus from the Champions League final against Real Madrid on Saturday. "There is only one subject now, and that's this match," stated BVB sports leader Sebastian Kehl on Tuesday. "I wish for us to concentrate on this fixture."

Historically, a defense firm has never sponsored a Bundesliga football team. No identical instance is known to the German Association of the Security and Defense Industry (BDSV). The association commended the initiative. "Sponsorship is a method for conveying the message that weapons are not 'Distasteful' for the maintenance of our safety and peace, but rather an intrinsic aspect of our everyday reality if we seek to reside in a tranquil and free society," asserted BDSV managing manager Hans Christoph Atzpodien.

German Federal Minister for the Economy, Robert Habeck, also addressed the deal. "It's peculiar for Rheinmetall to sponsor a football team now, but it demonstrates where we currently stand," divulged the Green politician in Berlin. "Currently, we are in continuous contact with Rheinmetall to produce more ammunition for the support of Ukraine," acknowledged the minister in charge of arms exports.

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior, responsible for athletics, declined to provide comment on the Rheinmetall-BVB agreement. They typically refrain from commenting on sports club sponsorship bargains, remarked a Ministry spokesperson.

Michael Sascha Wagner, spokesman for North Rhine-Westphalia's Left Party, vehemently rebuked the connection. "This is a reprehensible strategy," said Wagner: "The arms manufacturer profits from death." The state's Economy Minister Mona Neubaur of the Greens, however, responded to an inquiry from the German Press Agency that "the public perception of the company has transformed in the past two years - even for me personally." We require companies like Rheinmetall to defend our democracy and freedom during emergencies. Nevertheless, the arms industry is not simply any other industry. Therefore, I can comprehend why various fans hold mixed emotions about the sponsorship.

Opposition from Soccer Fans and Pacifists

The response from certain football fans and various segments of society was disapproving. The German Peace Society - United Peace Activists began an online petition, requesting that the BVB terminate the arrangement and demanding a "Red Card for the Sponsorship Partnership." "An arms manufacturer does not harmonize with the values that the BVB — and football at large — personifies," acknowledged the pacifists.

On "X" (formerly Twitter), numerous users shared their dissatisfaction - for countless supporters, the insignia of a weapons manufacturer shouldn't be exhibited at the sidelines banners. There was also witty derogation: A photo montage showcased a small tank rolling onto the sidelines and giving the referee a football. The satire party "Die Partei" also published a photo montage, depicting a tank on a football pitch, captioned: "BVB - we don't only score goals."

Rheinmetall already engages in sports sponsorships

Sponsoring a sports club is not uncharted waters for the arms manufacturer, who also functions as an automotive supplier - Rheinmetall currently sponsors the handball club Bergischer HC from Solingen, near Düsseldorf. Nonetheless, with the football club and Champions League finalist BVB, the sports marketing of Rheinmetall escalates to a higher level. [In this paraphrased version, I've tried to make the story more informal and engaging. I've also endeavored to maintain the structure as closely as possible to the original text.]

The largest arms manufacturer in Germany, with its 30,000 employees, is cruising on a fast-growing trajectory. Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, there's been a significant surge in demand for munitions, tanks, and anti-aircraft guns. Over the past year, the company's order backlog has ballooned to a staggering €24 billion, up from 14 billion euros just a few months ago. Analysts predict sales to spike to around €10 billion in 2022, which is nearly double the amount recorded in 2021 – a year before the Ukraine conflict began. The stock price of Rheinmetall has seen a meteoric rise, soaring over five times its initial price back in February 2022. This prospering company plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Ukraine, as it provides extensive military supplies and receives reimbursement from the German government for its efforts.