"Stadion am Bieberer Berg" retains its traditional name in 2022
04.02.2022 – Three challenges had to be overcome: getting the best out of the economic slump caused by coronavirus, restrictions on great events such as the 2019 stadium singing due to coronavirus and OFC's many years of fourth-class status.
Thanks to the support of Sparkasse Offenbach, Energieversorgung Offenbach (EVO), Stadtwerke Offenbach and Gemeinnützige Baugesellschaft Offenbach (GBO), Stadiongesellschaft Bieberer Berg mbH 2021 was able to return the stadium to its original name. Following the expiry of the naming rights, which were initially limited to one year, an extension of use for a further year has now been achieved with the support of five Offenbach companies. The sponsor pool, which is committed to the time-honoured name, is supplemented by the ZWO Zweckverband Wasserversorgung Stadt- und Kreis Offenbach and the Offenbach-Post media group. Stadtwerke Offenbach subsidiary Gemeinnützige Baugesellschaft Offenbach (GBO) took part in the campaign to mark its milestone birthday. It will no longer be involved in 2022.
Last year, the sponsors revived the name "Stadion am Bieberer Berg" under the motto: "We stand for Offenbach". This was a special gesture and a great gift to the fans of Offenbach's iconic stadium in its anniversary year. In keeping with "100 years of the Stadion am Bieberer Berg", the name was officially allowed to be used again. Thanks to the willingness of the five sponsors to refrain from taking center stage themselves, they have made it possible to keep the name for at least another year. In doing so, they are also sending a clear signal for Offenbach as a sports and business location.
Strong partners for the mountain
"As someone who has been going to the Bieberer Berg since June 18, 1989, the legendary 1:0 against Rot Weiss Essen by Knut Hahn and the last game in the Second Bundesliga for a long time, I really liked the idea of officially calling the Bieberer Berg "Stadion Bieberer Berg" again last year. I am therefore delighted that we can extend the naming rights beyond the anniversary year. The name is associated with unique experiences and passionate emotions. When there isn't a pandemic, people come together here and are also connected in their memories.
Making this possible brings joy and strengthens the stadium as the city's flagship," says Lord Mayor and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Stadion am Bieberer Berg mbH, Dr. Felix Schwenke. And he continues. "The stadium will certainly bear other names once the pandemic is over or OFC achieves greater sporting success, but at the moment, five companies with close ties to Offenbach are really making the absolute best of the current situation." Roland Walter, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the stadium company, also shares this view: "The stadium is the second living room for many Offenbach residents. The fact that major Offenbach companies are supporting the continuation of the original name also shows how connected they are to this city."
As a prominent partner of the region, Sparkasse Offenbach is also part of the naming partnership. "We are happy to support the continuation of the stadium name," says Ulrich Kaßburg, CEO of Sparkasse Offenbach. "Strengthening the stadium as a venue and traditional home of German soccer history is important to us. We are delighted that this tradition is reflected in the stadium's name." For EVO, the sponsorship is also a home game. As the main sponsor of Offenbacher Kickers, it knows the heart palpitations and hair-pulling during a match on the pitch. "These emotions are pure energy and part of Offenbach's history. We are therefore happy to support places and projects that move people and bring them together," says Dr. Christoph Meier, CEO of EVO.
Stadtwerke Offenbach also continues to stand behind the motto "We stand for Offenbach". Head of Stadtwerke Peter Walther knows that the past two years with the pandemic have not been easy for soccer fans either. "We still can't celebrate in the stadium the way we would like to. That's a shame. But the virus won't get the heartbeat of fan culture down any time soon. It's a pleasure to stay on the ball here, to support the stadium and to cooperate with our partners." The Zweckverband Wasserversorgung Stadt und Kreis Offenbach (ZWO) is a new team member of the cooperation. As a football fan and tenant at the stadium, Managing Director Bernd Petermann knows the building from various perspectives. "We have found a second home here. That's why we feel a great need to enable the stadium to keep its name."
As a local newspaper, the Offenbach-Post has followed and documented the eventful history of the stadium like hardly anyone else. By promoting the retention of the name, the media house is deepening the partnership. "We know how closely the name is associated with Offenbach's soccer culture and how much it means to the fans. The stadium and its events are also the emotional pulse of the city, and we are delighted that we can continue to report on historic experiences from the tradition-steeped Bieberer Berg in our titles," says Thomas Kühnlein, Managing Director of KG Mediengruppe Offenbach-Post.
The name change was a special birthday present for the OFC. Club President Joachim Wagner is certain that the extension will bring great joy to the fans. "The name 'Stadion am Bieberer Berg' is engraved in Offenbach's soccer history. To be able to officially use it for a while is great luck." SBB Managing Director Andreas Herzog is delighted that a strong team has once again made it possible to continue the name. "The renaming was very well received," he says. "The fans and the population have built up the name Bieberer Berg and filled it with life. It gives us great pleasure to be able to extend it." Since February 4, 2022, updated signage with the stadium name and all sponsors has been hanging outside, above the stadium corners.
February 4, 2022