What's next for ice hockey this winter? A question that hardly anyone can answer. After the press conference by Angela Merkel and Markus Söder, it is clear that major events will remain banned until the end of the year. Despite the concepts that the ice hockey league clubs have now created. But Pana Christakakis, managing director at SC Riessersee, still has some hope.
- Ice hockey clubs have been waiting for positive signals from politics for weeks
- Personnel planning is completely on hold
- Without solutions, SC Riessersee could face a liquidity shortage
Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Pana Christakakis digested the Watschn. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) basically distributed them to everyone in charge of professional sports clubs on Thursday afternoon. Ban on major events until December 31st - boom, that sat. “Very, very sobering”, the managing director of the Vermarktungs-GmbH of SC Riessersee only comments.
For weeks he and his colleagues in the ice hockey league have been hoping for signals from politics, especially positive ones. But: Again they were disappointed. "The bad thing is, there is always only blah blah blah, there are never fixed statements," complains Christakakis. This time too, Merkel and Co. left a back door open for themselves. There could be exceptions for events at which contact tracking can be guaranteed. After all: something like the lifeline for athletes. Because: “We can guarantee that in ice hockey.” In the past few weeks, Christakakis has developed a hygiene concept that comprises 74 pages and is aimed precisely at this point: It should help to collect all data, allocate a fixed seat, and clear one-way regulations in the stadiums in which only a few spectators would find space. "We did our homework, but they won't let us implement the concept."
The start of the season in October is unlikely to be kept
If it doesn't work to start a major league season by mid-November, then the topic of ice hockey should be obsolete for this winter in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The GmbH man no longer believes in the start on October 16 - officially this date is still valid. “The deadline cannot be kept, but that is my personal assessment.” Although a preliminary schedule already exists. The only thing missing is this signal. A working group at the state level is now to advise on how to proceed with sports in front of spectators by the end of October. “Nice,” says Christakakis sarcastically, “but we haven't had Corona for just last month.” He wonders why solutions haven't been worked out for a long time. "Logically we are not systemically relevant like kindergartens or nursing homes, but we are also about jobs."
SCR: Players are getting impatient
The SCR has now completely put personnel planning on hold. Two or three positions are still open. The club is currently not advancing their occupation. The players understandably get restless. “Especially those from outside call when we can go on the ice, when they can come and move into their apartments.” Christakakis can't tell them much. The constellation is particularly difficult for employees: the contracts begin due to the Corona clause in the case of the SCR five weeks before the start of the season, so they have a suspensive effect. The subject of short-time work has thus also been dealt with. “The players can only receive unemployment benefits for a certain period of time.” A dilemma. That's why it has to start in November.
The SCR-GmbH also plagues another problem: liquidity. The action with the warm-up jerseys gave those responsible a little breath. Around 300 fans took part in the € 50 campaign. “We can still hold out through September, but after that it doesn't look good.” Next week Christakakis wants to inform the friends' association. The crux is: The SCR has so far not sold season tickets, and has not issued sponsor invoices either. Sure: in an emergency, he would have to pay back the amounts after all. Just what money?
Sport in a possible ice hockey season is probably only of secondary importance
Despite all prophecies of doom - Christakakis does not want to paint completely black. "I still believe that we will somehow manage a season with few spectators, but with government support." A hope. One thing is certain for him: "The sport will be more of a minor matter, it's purely about the economic, about survival." Next Monday the ice hockey officials want to meet again with the politicians. A video conference for the top division is scheduled for Wednesday. “Wait, wait and wait again,” complains Christakakis. To the important signal.
