“Table tennis has enormous potential”: Industry representatives gather in Mainz to discuss emotions, brands, and fans
What is the economic and emotional potential of table tennis? This was the topic of discussion at the FANOMICS club meeting in Mainz, attended by, among others, DTTB President Dr. Wolfgang Dörner, TTBL Managing Director Nico Stehle, Borussia Düsseldorf Manager Andreas Preuß, and two-time World Champion Steffen Fetzner. The focus was on modern fan analytics, new marketing opportunities, and the question of how table tennis can better highlight its strengths in the future.
Table tennis as a platform for brand building, emotions, and modern fan engagement: At this year’s FANOMICS club meeting in Mainz, table tennis took center stage during a high-profile evening featuring guests from the worlds of business, sports, and media.
Norbert König, a ZDF reporter, DTTB Executive Committee member, and passionate table tennis player, moderated the panel discussion with DTTB President Dr. Wolfgang Dörner, TTBL Managing Director Nico Stehle, two-time world champion Steffen Fetzner as a representative of table tennis companies, and Borussia Düsseldorf manager Andreas Preuß. The focus was on the development opportunities for table tennis in Germany and the question of why the sport is often still underestimated in terms of emotional appeal, connection, and brand building.
Fan surveys provide valuable insights
The focus was particularly on the findings from systematic fan surveys conducted at various major TTBL events. Over the past few years, FANOMICS has used its “FanScan” platform to collect extensive data on visitor satisfaction and fans’ relationship to the sport of table tennis, particularly the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL). The results show a consistently positive trend in nearly all areas—from atmosphere and excitement to the sporting appeal and entertainment value of the events.
The goal of the analyses is to better understand visitors’ needs and to further develop events in a targeted manner. At the same time, the findings provide valuable insights for sponsorship, marketing, and strategic brand building. The panelists on stage in Mainz made it clear that in the future, not only the TTBL but the entire German table tennis community should benefit from this.
“With FANOMICS, we have developed a globally unique business model that applies scientific insights about fans in sports, art, and music to the relationships between companies and their customers and employees,” explained Roman Becker, managing partner of FANOMICS. “As a former second-division player, it goes without saying that supporting the professionalization of table tennis in Germany—while simultaneously providing it with a platform in front of business decision-makers—is a matter close to my heart.”
Becker drew a positive conclusion from the evening: “For many of our top clients, the meeting opened their eyes to the enormous potential table tennis offers and what a fascinating sport it is.” ”
Table Tennis for Participation and Networking
Following the panel discussion, numerous guests took the opportunity to engage in personal conversations with representatives of the table tennis community. Additionally, participants were able to pick up a racket themselves and experience table tennis as a hands-on activity—a program item that remained very popular well into the late evening.
The event made it clear: Table tennis is not only a competitive sport, but also a modern platform for experiences and communication with great potential for brands, partners, and fans.
Statements from the panel discussion
Dr. Wolfgang Dörner, President of the German Table Tennis Association:
“I had the privilege of being part of the Chancellor’s delegation during his trip to China. From China’s perspective, table tennis in Germany is the most important overseas market. That’s what the China Media Group, the market leader there, told us. Receiving this confirmation is very valuable to us.”
Nico Stehle, Managing Director of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL):
“The ‘strongest league in the world’ is not just a marketing slogan. We can rightly claim that. Over 30 percent of the top 100 players in the world rankings play in the Table Tennis Bundesliga. With Dyn and our connection to Axel Springer SE, we have a strong media partner. At the same time, we have a successful national team. Among the German population, almost everyone has had some exposure to table tennis and has usually played the game themselves at some point. These are ideal conditions. We have real momentum for table tennis. We want to capitalize on that.”
Andreas Preuß, Manager of Borussia Düsseldorf:
“Every day, international table tennis tournaments take place somewhere in the world. Nevertheless, the Table Tennis Bundesliga continues to hold incredible significance. The TTBL is vital, relevant to the market, has continuously evolved, and has consistently maintained its strong position over the years. Especially in an increasingly international table tennis world, the Bundesliga remains the stage where identification, rivalries, and emotional connections are forged. That is exactly what makes it so attractive to fans, players, and partners.”
Steffen Fetzner, 1989 doubles world champion and representative of the table tennis industry:
“Table tennis has an enormous advantage over many other sports: It is accessible, flexible, and can be enjoyed practically anywhere. At the same time, table tennis offers a unique blend of dynamism, precision, and emotion. That’s why the sport is ideal for bringing people together—in clubs, at events, or even in a corporate setting. We want to make this potential even more visible in the future.”