After only two years, Bayer 04 wants to change its supplier. Since there are problems with the current manufacturer Castore, the double winner is planning a new partnership that should bring a significant financial gain.
In the double season, the Castore logo adorned the chest of Florian Wirtz and Co. IMAGO/RHR-Photo
Stephan von Nocks reports from Leverkusen’s training camp in Donaueschingen
The hype surrounding double winners Bayer 04 Leverkusen is currently immense. At the training camp in Donaueschingen, up to 800 spectators crowd the SV Aasen 1928 facility where Xabi Alonso and co. train. By comparison: last year there were perhaps 100 observers on site at the training sessions in Saalfelden, Austria.
The club’s sporting success has taken it to new dimensions. In Donaueschingen, the majority of fans are not hardcore fans, but rather many football enthusiasts from the local area and further afield who have been infected with the Bayer virus. Among them are many children and young people. Bayer 04 is in. Jerseys with the name Florian Wirtz are the most popular.
In the middle of this boom phase, Bayer 04 is planning to change its supplier, parting ways with Castore after just two years. The English sporting goods manufacturer has ramped up its involvement in professional football extremely in recent years. Perhaps too quickly. Depending on the production site, one or two clubs have experienced certain quality defects in the jerseys supplied.
Fans have to wear Germany jerseys
However, Bayer 04 is not affected by this. Rather, Castore is struggling with massive delivery problems. Bayer jerseys, especially the away jersey, have been sold out in all or most sizes for some time. As a result, fans in Donaueschingen are mainly seeing DFB jerseys with the names of the Bayer stars.
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This is a bitter blow for the club, which has also seen positive developments in terms of jersey sales thanks to its sporting upturn. It would be possible to sell a lot more.
The fact that more fans cannot stock up on Leverkusen jerseys is, on the one hand, a nuisance for the factory club, but it also opens up an unexpected opportunity. Bayer 04 has the option of terminating the contract early.
New Balance is ahead
An option that the club will use. As a result, Bayer 04 can now achieve a significantly higher amount when signing a new contract. The negotiating position is much better thanks to the double.
Adidas and especially New Balance are the candidates. The Americans are said to be the favorites. Regardless of who Leverkusen chooses, the annual revenue is likely to increase by millions once the contract is signed.
