BLOG: Sponsors and Polish clubs

Atom Trefl Sopot

Situation in transfer market in PlusLiga 2015/2016 is not an exception. For example one year ago Jastrzebski Wegiel lost a lot of money because of financial problems of a main sponsor – JSW (Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa – that was a problem not only for JSW but for the whole mining industry in Poland). Similar situation occurred in one team of OrlenLiga in Muszyna, when Bank BPS decided to stop sponsoring the team.

In this season in the most difficult situation – at this moment – is Atom Trefl Sopot. PGE – the main sponsor (Polish Energy Group) had an agreement with the club until 2018, but because of financial issues the agreement is over and Atom Trefl Sopot has a lot of problems right now. At the same time, Aluprof, one of the leading European distributors of aluminum systems for the construction industry, is now the former sponsor of BKS Bielsko-Biala, as the company decided to finish a cooperation with the team. The advantage of Bielsko-Biala’s club is that Aluprof will support youth teams in the city.

LOTOS Trefl Gdansk also have problems with the main sponsor (LOTOS is a producer of unleaded gasoline, diesel, fuel oils, aviation fuels, motor and industrial lubricants, bitumen and waxes.). Because of that, team from Gdansk had to part ways with few foreign players.

In Poland there is a lot of controversy associated with Atom Trefl Sopot (but also with some basketball teams). The question is – should public companies give money for sport clubs or not?  Maybe that should be a task of Ministry of Sport and Tourism?

Anyhow, more and more volleyball clubs are losing their sponsors. Therefore, they are also losing the financial power, which later force the club management to decrease the overall budget and even to withdraw their teams from the European competitions.  

The current situation in Poland is not that dramatic, but it is still concerning. The decisions of some sponsors to leave the clubs are not caused by political decision, but by the current economic situation. And there is also a matter of individual choice, as for example, PGE is still a sponsor of Skra Belchatow, despite they decided to abandon Atom Trefl Sopot.

In any case, something just have to be changed, because the only side which is losing right now is the side of volleyball. 

Credits: VolleyCaffe.pl

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