Germany

Kölner Haie and Schwenninger Wild Wings, which both compete in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the top division of ice hockey in Germany, have unveiled extensions with long-term main partners.

Payment services firm Barclaycard has enhanced its portfolio of naming rights partnerships with multi-purpose arenas by taking over the contract for the O2 World facility in Hamburg, Germany.

Bundesliga top-tier German football club Hamburg has sealed an extension to a partnership with Care-Energy.

German Bundesliga football club Borussia Mönchengladbach has agreed a long-term extension to its sponsorship deal with the Bitburger brewery.

The Sportfive agency has signed up new sponsors for the German Bundesliga’s 2014-15 relegation/promotion play-off and reported that marketing rights for the games and the 2015-16 Supercup event have sold out.

German Bundesliga football club Freiburg has extended a sponsorship deal with Berg bei Ravensburg-based electromechanical components provider Rafi.

Online betting company X-TIP has extended its partnership with German Bundesliga football club Wolfsburg.

German automotive services company Dekra is using sponsorship to develop global awareness, raising its focus on the North American and Asian markets.

German private banking group Südwestbank has entered into a partnership with Bundesliga football club VfB Stuttgart.

European mainland train operator Thalys has agreed to become an official partner of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s 2017 World Championship.

German insurance company ERGO is looking to intensify its efforts around national sports association sponsorships, Andrea Hoelken, head of strategic marketing at ERGO, told Sports Sponsorship Insider.

The European arm of payment services provider Visa has agreed a multi-race sponsorship deal with the Formula E motor racing championship.

Online photo service Pixum has secured the naming rights to the German Handball Bundesliga’s Super Cup competition.

German automotive services company Dekra has opted to extend its partnership with the German Football Association (DFB).

Real estate investment company the Westminster Group has agreed to serve as an official team sponsor of Germany’s national ice hockey team.

Germany-based ice hockey equipment supplier Schanner has extended its partnership with the DEB, the governing body of ice hockey in Germany.

German Basketball Bundesliga team Skyliners Frankfurt has agreed a multi-year extension with its title sponsor Fraport.

Japanese electronics company Brother has secured a long-term partnership with the German Handball Federation (DHB) and the Handball Bundesliga, while Korea’s LG Electronics has agreed to back the latter’s Final Four competition.