- After 20 years of partnership with BLG Logistics, the Eisbären Bremerhaven are looking for a new main sponsor for the coming season.
- BLG remains a sponsor and will focus on the youth sector in the future; According to managing director Max Melching, there are no plans to change the name of the Eisbären.
- According to Melching, the search for sponsors is going smoothly and a decision should be made by the end of June at the latest; the promotion goal remains unchanged.
Things have been going well for the Eisbären in the last few weeks: they have five wins from the last six games, fourth place in the league, the signing of BBL professional and ex-Skyliners captain Lorenz Brenneke and a provisional contract extension with coach Steven Esterkamp. The stated goal was promotion to the first basketball league. However, the Eisbären recently announced that their long-standing partner BLG will no longer be the main sponsor of the team from Bremerhaven from next season – a damper on their promotion ambitions?
Crisis or thorny opportunity?
“Nobody needs to worry that the polar bears are now in danger or that a rise would no longer be viable,” says Eisbären managing director Max Melching. BLG’s exit as main sponsor was by no means a surprise, but had been “planned for a long time”. Melching also emphasizes that the BLG will continue to sponsor the Eisbären – but now increasingly in the youth sector.
Tina Aller Heiligen, press spokeswoman for BLG, confirms the company’s reorientation. The sponsorship concept is currently being realigned and is in negotiations with the Eisbären in order to continue to cooperate in the long term. Specifically, Melching reveals that this is particularly about promoting competitive sports among young polar bears.
This means that the chest of the polar bear jersey will be free for new lettering from next season. After 15 years of the BLG logo and a total of 20 years of partnership, this is undoubtedly a change – and perhaps also a turning point? Melching sees this development as an opportunity to strengthen the connection between the polar bears and Bremen. “This is now a good chance to get one or two supporters from Bremen on board again,” says the managing director. That would be a strong sign that “we are a team from both cities and a team from the entire state.”
The search for a new sponsor is already underway
There is not yet a clear trend in the search for sponsors, but Melching would prefer a regional solution and “a sponsor who suits us and is keen on the topic”. An expansion of the commitment of one of the existing sponsors is also conceivable. Central to the discussions is the willingness to support the Eisbären in the long term in both the second and first basketball Bundesliga.
So far, the main sponsor’s investment has been in the six-figure range, reveals the managing director. In the event of promotion, the required financial commitment would probably double compared to Pro A – but the BBL of course offers a much greater reach and media presence, says Melching. He is confident that a good solution will be found.
We will definitely remain the polar bears.
Max Melching, Managing Director Eisbären Bremerhaven
And according to Melching, the polar bears want to find this solution as soon as possible – “the sooner, the better, of course.” A decision on season and squad planning will definitely be made by the end of June at the latest. They can prove twice this weekend that the Eisbären won’t let this bother them for so long: first on Friday at the away game in Wolmirstedt and then on Sunday at home against the Baskets from Paderborn.
By the way, if you get the creeps when you think about teams like Ratiopharm Ulm or the SparkassenStars from Bochum, Melching can calm you down as much as possible. A name change is not planned. Adding a sponsor to the current name would only be an option if “it really fits in”. The strength of the polar bears also lies in their unique brand. This is definitely non-negotiable, emphasizes Melching and promises: “We will definitely remain the polar bears.”
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