„A good week that we are benefiting from on many levels“

Markus, an intense week in San Antonio is coming to a close. What is your verdict?

„It was a good and valuable week for SV 98 on a variety of levels. We deepened existing relationships, expanded our network, made many new contacts, and offered our partners real added value. The team enjoyed excellent conditions for working effectively and growing even closer together. On top of that, we played the first match in our club’s history in the USA. It was an extraordinary week.“

Why is it important for a club like SV 98 to pursue such paths in the first place?

„We want to—and must—position SV 98 well for the future; we bear this responsibility toward the club, its members, and the fans. The economic landscape of professional football is changing, and TV revenues have been stagnating for years. That is why we have to create new opportunities ourselves and be innovative with our work. Our partnership in San Antonio is just one of many examples of this. I could also mention our numerous initiatives in grassroots and amateur football, or our ‚Odenwald‘ campaign. Regarding our trip to the USA: the goal isn’t to gain international visibility at any cost, but rather to seize opportunities there that truly align with us and our club.“

You mentioned the network. In concrete terms, how can SV 98 benefit from such connections?

„Over the past few years, we have built a relationship with San Antonio that has long since extended far beyond football. The last few days have clearly demonstrated this. For instance, a business delegation from Darmstadt comprising more than 20 participants traveled to San Antonio in conjunction with our trip and the friendly match. Our visit and the game served as the catalyst for this journey. When people and companies from Darmstadt come together with decision-makers from the business, political, and social spheres in Texas as a result, it highlights the unifying power football can generate. It also shows that SV 98 has earned a position where we can act—and I emphasise this deliberately—as a driving force.“

In this regard, what distinguished the trip to San Antonio from a typical internationalization tour?

„This connection didn’t just originate on the drawing board. Darmstadt and San Antonio have shared a sister-city partnership for many years, which has fostered an ever-growing network of contacts. We have been working with Spurs Sports & Entertainment and San Antonio FC for two years now. There have been reciprocal visits, exchanges involving youth teams and coaches, and joint social projects—and now, for the first time, a visit by our professional squad. So, we aren’t here on a standard marketing trip; we are truly visiting friends.“

What role do SV 98’s partners play in this?

„If we want to develop further as a club, building partnerships with companies that operate internationally is part of that process. We need to be able to serve these partners effectively. Focused Energy is a prime example of this; the company has roots in Darmstadt but also a location in Austin. During this trip, we visited their office there and integrated Focused Energy into the business delegation. The company served as a ‚Main Partner‘ for the trip, which underscores the economic value such international trips offer our partners. Another example is our kit supplier, CRAFT; their US operations benefit from the Lilien network through initiatives such as youth and community engagement activities in San Antonio.“

At the same time, the squad spent a week away from their usual training routine. What is the team taking away from Texas in sporting terms?

„A great deal. We seized the opportunity to make progress both on and off the pitch. In my view, the balance was spot-on: intensive, focused training sessions on the one hand, and shared experiences and team-building on the other. When a squad experiences a trip like this together—spending so much time in each other’s company and gaining experiences outside the standard league routine—it really bonds the group. I consider this extremely important, especially for a newly formed squad following a poor start to the season. My impression is that the team has grown even closer over the past week, and we are returning to Darmstadt stronger as a unit.“

What stands out for you personally from this week?

„Above all, the feeling that an idea has evolved into something very tangible. We are being welcomed here in San Antonio like friends. Bringing our squad here for the first time and playing against our partner club, San Antonio FC, marked the next major step. At the same time, we’ve seen how this connection brings together people from business, academia, politics, and the community at large. Sport is uniquely capable of achieving that.“