Bundesliga side RB Leipzig has named gaming company Merkur Group as its official partner.
For the first two years, the company will be prominently featured under its umbrella brand Merkur and its new sports betting brand, Merkur Bets. This visibility will be seen during German top-flight matches at the Red Bull Arena and on live TV through LED advertising boards and Cam Carpets.
Nils Rullkotter, Senior Manager at the Board of Management for Marketing, Communication and Politics at Merkur Group, commented: “RB Leipzig’s journey represents an extraordinary success story and we are very proud to welcome a partner at Champions League level to our network.
“Within a very short time, the club has made a name for itself not only in Germany, but also internationally.
“RB Leipzig stands for innovative concepts, attractive football and joy of playing, which fits perfectly with Merkur products and our brand promise of ‘joy in the game’.”
Meanwhile, Murkur will also be responsible for presenting the Bundesliga table of the RBL men’s team on all digital media.
“The Merkur Group has followed an impressive path for many years, which has led the company consistently upwards: with creativity, flexibility, enthusiasm and, above all, total conviction,” added Matthias Reichwald, RB Leipzig Chief Commercial Officer.
“It’s with these qualities precisely that we are constantly pursuing our goals at RB Leipzig and we now have another excellent partner by our side in Merkur.
“With this partnership, we want to create special synergies for both brands: both for the live football experience in the stadium and on the digital platforms.”
RB Leipzig has announced several deals this year, with this latest partnership coming after the conclusion of their agreement with 888sport, which lasted from 2022.
While there is often resistance to gambling sponsorships in football, this local partnership is likely to be welcomed by fans, especially compared to recent Premier League deals that have sparked significant backlash on social media.
In January of this year, the German gaming giant, formerly known as Gauselmann Group, officially rebranded as Merkur Group.
The rebranding was completed on 1 January with the entry in the commercial register and – 67 years after its foundation – the holding company Gauselmann AG now operates under the new name Merkur.com AG.
