Audi And Hamburger SV On The Ball Together

INGOLSTADT/HAMBURG, January 28, 2009: Audi has added a prominent member to its list of successful partnerships in national and international soccer. Effective immediately, the manufacturer from Ingolstadt is the official vehicle partner of the Hamburger Sport -Verein (HSV). In addition, the brand will support the “The Hamburg Way,” a social initiative of the soccer club that plays in Germany’s First Bundesliga (first federal league).

Audi and the Hamburger Sport-Verein have agreed on an extensive cooperation package for the next three years. Among others, Coach Martin Jol, Head of Sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer, Chairman of the Board Bernd Hoffmann as well as other coaches and officials are now driving vehicles from the sporty model range of the Ingolstadt brand. In return, Audi presents itself with vehicles and other activities at the Hamburg HSH Nordbank Arena.

With an average of over 55,000 spectators per home game, the club – currently ranking in fourth place – achieves top turnouts among federal league clubs. “There is hardly another German metropolis where the passion shared by the club and its fans is more tangible. And passion is also a theme closely linked to our vehicles,” says Dietmar K. Elsasser, Head of Distribution and Sales, Region North of AUDI AG. “Hamburg is one of the biggest single automobile markets in Germany, and thus one of the most important domestic markets for us as a manufacturer.”

Katja Kraus, board member of the Hamburger SV: “By winning Audi as a new partner, we managed to secure a partnership with an automobile brand of high international prestige, which stands for absolute quality. We are particularly pleased to see Audi joining us in the ‘Hamburg Way’ initiative as well.”

By concurrently supporting the “Hamburg Way,” Audi, as a partner, assumes social responsibility in Hamburg as well. The novel initiative of the HSV under the patronage of First Mayor Ole von Beust combines classic sports sponsoring with social commitment. The “Hamburg Way” is a long-term alliance of members from sports, politics and business, which promotes selected projects. “We highly value the HSV’s social commitment and are pleased about the opportunity to immediately start supporting the activities of the initiative,” says Dietmar K. Elsasser.

The cooperation will be launched as early as next week when the federal league’s return round kicks off with a home game between the HSV and FC Bayern. As well as the international top-caliber clubs Real Madrid, FC Barcelona or AC Milan the Munich club is a member of AUDI AG’s large and successful soccer family.