After selling their top players in Hwang Hee-chan, Erling Braut Håland, and Takumi Minamino, Austrian champions Salzburg will be looking to introduce a fresher crop of young prospects to the world stage and improve upon their last year’s European campaign under manager Jesse Marsch. We look at their sponsors for this season.
PREMIUM PARTNERS
Red Bull – The Austrian energy drink giant is well known for venturing into football by rebranding football clubs across the globe in its image. Apart from Austria, the company also runs successful football teams in the US (Red Bull New York), Brazil (Red Bull Bragantino) and Germany (RB Leipzig). In 2005, Red Bull purchased a club called SV Austria Salzburg. The acquisition was followed by a complete makeover of the club with the company’s red-and-white branding into what we today know as Red Bull Salzburg. The club has become a real domestic juggernaut under the Red Bull banner, winning 18 major trophies since 2005. Red Bull’s ownership of FC Salzburg also makes the company their principal sponsor, holding front-of-shirt branding rights for the matchday kits.
Rauch – Austrian fruit juice producer Rauch Fruchtsäfte expanded its agreement with Salzburg to become a premium sponsor of the club in 2017. The two have been partners since 2015. As part of setting new and innovative marketing standards, the Austrian Bundesliga allows its teams to feature any one player in their side to wear a jersey with a sponsor different from the rest of the players. Salzburg’s expanded agreement with Rauch leverages this regulation to feature the youngest player on their team to have Rauch’s logo in the front of his kit instead of the traditional Red Bull logo.
A1 – Austria’s leading fixed and mobile network operator A1 Telekom (A1) serves as one of Salzburg’s premium partners. The two parties last extended their partnership in a four-year agreement in 2018. The deal sees the two collaborate over several fan engagement activities, with A1 getting branding rights across the club’s physical and digital assets.
Audi – German automotive giant Audi is also a principal partner of FC Salzburg. The two last extended their partnership in a three-year agreement in 2018. The deal sees the two collaborate over several fan engagement activities, with Audi also sponsoring the famous Salzburg Festival.
Nike – US sportswear giant Nike became Red Bull Salzburg’s official kit supplier in 2014, replacing German rival Adidas.
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
bet-at-home.com – European online gambling and sports betting company bet-at-home.com is an official partner of Red Bull Salzburg.
Raiffeisen – Raiffeisen is an official partner of Red Bull Salzburg since 2011. As per the deal, the banking company has collaborated with the club over many projects, like the Raiffeisen Kids Day, an annual start-of-school offer for kids in Salzburg, and the Stierwoscha Trophy, a popular tournament for casual teams, whose winners face Red Bull Salzburg in a friendly.
Wiener Städtische – Austrian insurance firm Wiener Städtische is an official partner of Red Bull Salzburg since 2018.
Stiegl – Private Austrian brewery Stiegl is an official sponsor of Red Bull Salzburg and holds pouring rights at the club’s home ground, Stadion Salzburg (also knows as the Red Bull Arena).
Salzburg Verkehr – The Salzburg-based public transportation association serves as an official sponsor to Red Bull Salzburg, providing bus rides to on from the team’s home matches at the Red Bull Arena. The deal between the two parties currently lasts till 2021.
Mastercard – Red Bull Salzburg roped in American financial services company Mastercard as an official sponsor in 2019. The deal is part of the club’s cashless initiative to increase sustainability. Fans can buy tickets with their debit or credit cards, along with an option for a prepaid Mastercard worth €20 (US$23.42) for use within the stadium.
LOCAL PARTNERS
HCS – Austrian spare car parts company HCS Automotive GmbH is a local partner of Red Bull Salzburg.
G.A.S. – GA SERVICE (G.A.S.) GmbH is a local partner of Red Bull Salzburg.
offset5020 – Siezenheim-based print-based products and services provider offset5020 is a local sponsor of Red Bull Salzburg.
Progress Werbung – Austrian outdoor advertising company Progress Werbung is a local partner of Red Bull Salzburg and provides its services to the club as part of the deal.
Krautgartner – Austrian travel agency Krautgartner is a local sponsor of Red Bull Salzburg. As part of the deal, Krautgartner provides travel and accommodation support to Red Bull Salzburg’s football and ice hockey teams for their matchday outings.
Sonepar Österreich – Vienna-based Austrian electrical goods supplier Sonepar is a local sponsor of Red Bull Salzburg.
TV PARTNER
Sky Sport – Sky Deutschland-owned Sky Sport group is the official TV Partner of Red Bull Salzburg.
CLUB SUPPORT
Wings for Life – Wings for Life is a research foundation dedicated towards finding ways to deal with spinal cord injuries, including cure and rehab. The foundation is spearheaded by two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner and the founder of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz. The two created the foundation in 2004, a year after Kinigadner’s son Hannes had a tragic accident which left him tetraplegic.
Red Bull Salzburg is a proud supporter of Wings for Life. The two often collaborate over several charity events, the revenue from which goes to the non-profit foundation.
Written By
Anshuman Joshi
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