FC Schalke 04 reacted to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and parted ways with its long-term main sponsor Gazprom. With Vivawest, the successor is apparently already ready. According to a recent report, the Royal Blues have been in contact with the housing group for some time.
The partnership between FC Schalke 04 and the Russian state-owned company Gazprom has always been controversial since it started in 2007. In the meantime, the Gelsenkirchen-based company has separated from the natural gas production company. The reason for this is the ongoing war of aggression that Russia is waging in Ukraine.
Since FC Schalke 04 has had to cope with massive financial problems since relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga at the latest, the club is facing a difficult phase. After all, the Knappen have probably already found their new main sponsor. Loud “image“The cooperation with the housing provider Vivawest is to be announced at the weekend.
To FC Schalke 04’s advantage, it became clear that contact with the company based in the Ruhr area did not first come about after Gazprom’s exit.
Four to five million euros for FC Schalke 04?
As a result, the second division club has long been exploring a partnership with the RAG Foundation, which is the main shareholder of Vivawest with a 40 percent stake. Their CEO, Bernd Tönjes, is a big S04 fan. When the former Schalke bosses Clemens Tönnies and Alexander Jobst thought about spinning off the professional team in the past, the RAG Foundation is said to have been traded internally as one of the possible major shareholders.
In addition, CFO Christina Rühl-Hamers is said to have recently checked how the Corona loan of 35 million euros, which is secured by a state guarantee, could be replaced with the help of the RAG Foundation. Allegedly, Schalke offered the catering rights in the arena as security.
The contacts with Vivawest are therefore not new. According to “Bild”, the real estate group would step in as a transitional sponsor and pay four to five million euros. Gazprom is said to have transferred around nine million euros to the district club every year.
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