Henninger Turm: Sponsor or not?

By Susan Westemeyer

Tuesday, the word was that Henninger Brewery was considering cancelling its sponsorship of Rund um den Henninger Turm, traditionally run on May 1 in Frankfurt, Germany. Their sponsor contract runs though 2007 and contains an option for 2008, but "We wouldn't have anything against it, if the organizer would look for a new co-sponsor or sponsor," brewery spokesman Birte Kleppien told the Frankfurther Neue Presse.

The German brewery was allegedly even considering withdrawing its sponsorship entirely. "That is a part of the negotiations at the moment, but I can't comment further," said Kleppien.

However, things sounded different on Thursday. The brewery plans to honour its contract, and anything else was a "misapprehension", said Otto Völker, the Henninger Brewery director. It does plan to reduce its financial contribution, though, and says, "We would of course not stand in the way of the engagement by other firms who want to contribute to the success of this race with a financial donation."