Andreas Stracke looks tired.

Nevertheless, he is full of energy.

In the days before the home game in the DEL2 last Sunday against the Ravensburg Towerstars, which the Löwen Frankfurt lost 1:3, the shareholder, together with Stefan Krämer (managing partner) and some helpers, had to remove the logo of VTB Bank Europe, which advertises at the ice hockey club .

The lions wrote "PEACE" (peace) in black letters on a white background in the places on the jersey and in the hall where the logo of the bank, which is a European offshoot of Russia's second largest bank, was previously emblazoned.

On Friday, the lions separated from their so-called “exclusive partner”, the Russian invasion of Ukraine left those responsible no choice.

They don't yet know what awaits them.

The financial impact is dramatic.

Not only in the short term, but especially in the medium and long term.

“We are able to pay all salaries in the current season, but we are very concerned about the coming season,” says Stracke.

The sponsor budget of the lions is a good three million euros, now the club is missing a large six-digit sum in the coming season.

Stracke does not give any concrete figures, the talk is of around 500,000 euros.

However, the income from the sponsors must be doubled for the lions to receive the license for the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).

“Our ethical decision is an absolute economic disaster.

It's like we've lost our legs," says Stracke with a sarcastic smile.

For months now, the lions have been looking for a new main sponsor who, together with the Russian bank, should have a prominent position in Frankfurt's portfolio.

Now these plans are no longer valid.

Individual paths with sponsors

The lions were already in intensive contact with the bank in the days before the separation.

"In order to protect our own self-image, we were forced to act," says Stracke.

In professional sport, economic constraints often come before questions of attitude.

The lions decided differently – with an uncertain outcome.

They join an illustrious line that also includes Schalke 04 after the separation from Gazprom and the Haas team in Formula 1 after the separation from the Russian sponsor Uralkali.

But in Formula 1 and football it is easier to find new and big sponsors.

The Lions hope their clear stance will be recognized by new sponsors.

In the case of the lions, the separation from the European branch of the Russian bank is now to be made up for by two new main sponsors.

"It doesn't matter whether it's a data center whose headquarters are in Holland or America, or a company that is completely based here," says Stracke.

“We are also looking worldwide.

Of course, given what we can offer, it makes more sense to continue looking for sponsors in the Rhine-Main area.”

The lions go their own way when it comes to acquiring sponsors.

"Of course we have an idea of ​​what we want to achieve with a new main sponsor, but also with smaller sponsors." But the club clarifies that with each partner in a conversation, says Stracke.

"We don't have fixed sponsor packages, our service components are based on the needs of the potential partners."

The city, in the person of sports director Mike Josef and Oliver Schwebel from the Frankfurt Economic Development Agency, also contacted the lions, who offered their help and their network.

“We are happy that we have such a standing in the city.

We are the second largest professional club after Eintracht," says Stracke.

In order to calm the nerves of the two Löwen shareholders and to improve the prospects for professional ice hockey in Frankfurt, the new main sponsors should be found quickly - preferably immediately.