Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart has extended its shirt sponsorship deal with Daimler AG. The automotive corporation reached an early contract extension with the club that will now run until the end of the '18-19 season. As part of the deal, Mercedes-Benz Bank, a subsidiary of Daimler, will stay on the front of the team's shirts. The partnership between Daimler and VfB Stuttgart was initially set to expire at the end of the '16-17 season. The new contract also includes car brand Mercedes Benz as a second-tier partner of the club (VfB Stuttgart). SPONSORs' Holger Rehm reported Mercedes-Benz Bank currently pays an estimated €6M ($6.8M) annually for the sponsorship rights. Due to the additional marketing rights such as LED boards in camera view, the rights fee is expected to increase to €6.5M ($7.4M). Daimler's support of the club "would also continue in the 2nd Bundesliga." The club currently sits in 17th place with only one game left. In the second division, the company would reportedly pay a little more than €5M ($5.7M) per year for rights (SPONSORs, 5/10).
