After successfully opening its first overseas office in New York City almost three years ago, FC Bayern is now also represented in Shanghai. The FC Bayern Munich (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. office was officially opened in the Chinese metropolis today at 11 am local time (4 am CET). FC Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, executive board member Jörg Wacker and brand ambassadors Giovane Elber and Bixente Lizarazu represented the club on site and took part in the ceremonial opening with around 120 invited guests from the worlds of politics, industry and the media.

“After opening our US office, we're delighted to establish our second permanent presence here in Shanghai. This allows us to intensify our contact with the fans, with clubs, with associations and other institutions. We've had nothing but wonderful experiences on our previous trips to China, and we've felt the high esteem our club enjoys here,” Rummenigge commented.

Jörg Wacker, director of internationalisation and strategy, said: “We have a broad fan base in China with more than 136 million followers at the present time, and we want to intensify our dialogue with them from now on. We'll offer the Chinese market the right solutions, particularly in youth football, in the rapidly developing football world. We will also join with our partners to create special offers for our Chinese fans, making FC Bayern a more tangible experience.”

The FC Bayern office headed by Managing Director Rouven Kasper has been active in China since September 2016. The main objectives are the ongoing expansion of the FC Bayern brand in China and the world and to intensify contacts with Bayern fans. Furthermore, as in the USA, existing sponsorship and media partnerships will be deepened. Other important projects include arranging partnerships in youth football and additional marketing activities such as the “Legend Trophy Tour” and the “Audi Summer Tour”.

FC Bayern will visit China and Singapore in July during this year's “Audi Summer Tour 2017”, contesting four attractive friendlies against leading European clubs: