Interview
Carsten Cramer and Armin Papperger on the partnership between Borussia Dortmund and Rheinmetall
Mr. Cramer, the official sponsorship agreement with Rheinmetall, which has been in place since the summer of 2024, will not be renewed after 30 June, 2027. How did this decision come about?
Carsten Cramer: “First of all, it’s important for me to emphasize that we did not make this decision alone, but together with Rheinmetall. We are, of course, aware that our partnership has been the subject of controversy from the very beginning. We are familiar with the criticism from our members and from some of the fans. At the 2024 general member’s assembly, the members voted on a motion not to extend the partnership agreement with Rheinmetall beyond 2027. We naturally took this into account and took it seriously in our discussions with Rheinmetall.”
Mr. Papperger, how did you perceive the dialogue with BVB on this issue?
Armin Papperger: “The dialogue was very open, constructive, and based on trust—just as our entire partnership has been from the very beginning. Carsten Cramer and I spoke very transparently about what matters to BVB and its members. We were equally open in sharing our own considerations. The result of our discussions is the decision in question, which we reached together after careful consideration.”
Mr. Cramer, you’re still considered a personal advocate of the partnership. How difficult was this decision for you?
Carsten Cramer: “Yes, I still am. That’s why the decision wasn’t easy for me. But if we’re speaking out so clearly in favor of 50+1, and if the solidarity and unity of BVB is as important as they are to me, then we simply have to consider all perspectives and all the concerns of our stakeholders and, ultimately, make a decision.”
And how does the dialogue with members work when it comes to such decisions?
Carsten Cramer: “Dialogue, engagement, and criticism are expressly encouraged as part of our dialogue with our membership, and we listen. BVB needs constructive debate. Anyone who wants to take on responsibility for our club must also accept the economic reality and, ideally, contribute ideas and solutions. However, this must remain an absolute exception and an isolated case. Otherwise, we’ll seriously jeopardize the trust we’ve worked so hard to build in the business community.”
Mr. Papperger, why did Rheinmetall decide to partner with BVB in 2024, and what impact has the partnership had from your perspective?
Armin Papperger: “We entered into this partnership with great conviction, as did BVB. Security and defense capabilities are issues that, now more than ever, belong at the heart of society, and a football club like Borussia Dortmund, with its influence, reaches more people than almost any other social actor. We have achieved these goals after three years. We knew that a collaboration like this would spark discussion. We certainly anticipated that. It’s the only way to open up spaces for discourse, and debates like these were - and remain - important and will continue to be actively pursued. Many of our employees have also become true BVB fans over the past few years. For me, that’s a wonderful outcome, and I’m sure it will stay that way.”
Mr. Cramer, how important was this partnership for BVB from a financial perspective?
Carsten Cramer: “As a KGaA, we bear responsibility for BVB’s athletic, financial, and social future. It would therefore be a lie to say that financial considerations weren’t also a factor. We will no longer have the revenue from the sponsorship agreement starting in the summer of 2027 - that’s a fact. This reduces our financial flexibility. We’ll have to reprioritize planned investments and critically examine how we can find sustainable solutions. I’ll also speak openly about this at the upcoming general members’ assembly.
Sponsorship agreements are generally very important for football clubs. Among other things, they help us finance infrastructure, players, and our stadium, and keep up with international competition. Without such partners, it would be a significant challenge to compensate for lost revenue. After all, costs aren’t going down, and we still have a lot planned at BVB.”
Mr. Papperger, Rheinmetall will continue to support BVB in the future. What can you say about that?
Armin Papperger: “Not as an official partner anymore - that’s true. But we’ll definitely remain connected. As I mentioned earlier, many Rheinmetall employees have become fans in recent years and have even founded their own fan club. They want to continue being part of the stadium experience. In that regard, I’m glad that our box will remain. For us, this is a sign of our connection to the club and the region. In addition, we’ll continue to carry out joint initiatives, such as supporting Ukrainian children at the football academy.”
Mr. Cramer, what does this mean specifically for Rheinmetall’s visibility in connection with Borussia Dortmund?
Carsten Cramer: “There will no longer be a traditional sponsorship agreement, and consequently, no advertising board or branding. But as Armin has already emphasized: Rheinmetall has thousands of employees, and naturally, many of them are BVB fans who certainly identify more strongly with the club because of the partnership. We will also not let up in our joint social engagement - especially for children and young people in need from war-torn regions of Ukraine - and will continue to remain active together.”
Mr. Papperger, what does this joint commitment mean to you?
Armin Papperger: “This commitment is very meaningful to me personally, and certainly to Carsten and BVB as well. It’s about children and young people, some of whom are now facing their fifth winter of war in Ukraine.
We’re helping them escape their daily routines for a few days. Whether it’s playing with a ball on a practice field or visiting a stadium, they can simply be kids again for a moment. This is a cause close to our hearts, and we’ll continue to be active in this effort.”
A closing remark from both of you, if you’d like.
Armin Papperger: “Thank you to BVB for a consistently fair, productive, and effective partnership. We’re very happy to remain connected to Black and Yellow - as supporters in other ways, through our staff at the stadium, and in our shared commitment to social progress.”
Carsten Cramer: “I agree. I’d like to thank Armin Papperger and Rheinmetall for the great trust that has characterized our partnership and will continue to do so in the future.”