“Without the financial support there is no ice sport in Grafing.” Sacha Kaefer, chairman of the EHC Klostersee, found clear words.
The reason for this was the criticism of the operating costs of the club's own stadium that arose in the course of the most recent meeting of the district committee.
Grafing
- “It pops up every year.
Of course we want to save costs, of course we want to reduce CO2 emissions and do something against climate change. ”The allegation that the new refrigeration system did not bring the energy savings we had hoped for is correct, according to the Klosterseer boss.
"But a specialist company is currently in the process of optimizing the setting, then we will need less electricity."
A closed hall would be more expensive, argues the EHC Klostersee
Kaefer also took a stand on the charge of changing the hall's semi-open status and turning it into a closed hall. “If that were implemented, the electricity consumption would be significantly higher. Not in winter, but in the months when no ice is made. Because the hall is used all year round. Inline hockey is played there. Meetings also take place there. If the hall were closed, a ventilation system would have to be installed and operated. Very expensive. ”In addition, the construction made it possible at least for squad athletes to train when all other halls were closed due to Corona.
The fact that the subsidy granted annually by the city of Grafing and the district is checked for savings potential is "the content of the 15-year contract that was signed with us," said Kaefer.
"Every three years there is a review of how high the subsidy has to be to ensure operation." Some politicians are also not quite aware of what is offered in the colloquial language as "barn".
“The hall is closed twice a year for 14 days each time.
Otherwise it is used with or without ice from early in the morning until late at night. "
Ice making later in the year: the associations' requirements do not allow this
When the district assembly called for ice to be made later, Kaefer pointed out that there was no way of making a decision in this regard.
“That also depends on the specifications of the associations such as the Bavarian Ice Hockey Association and their schedule.
They determine when competitions, tournaments, etc. take place.
We are the smallest firefly here.
Here the politicians and functionaries would be asked to make this more generally acceptable. "
In general, one has to react more flexibly in the future.
It would not be acceptable to stubbornly prepare ice cream from October to February and not keep an eye on the development of the pandemic.
“Exercise when the incidence figures allow,” said the EHC chairman as one possibility.
“Example Miesbach.
A closed hall owned by the city.
The ice cream business is already running there. "
The EHC Klostersee and the city of Grafing would work together "very well".
After all, the aim is to enable more than 300 children, schoolchildren and active people to do their sport.
“Without a subsidy from the city and district, we would have to close.
The ice rink would then fall to the city of Grafing. "
Figure skating and speed skating: summer training is very important
The two department heads of the divisions figure skating and speed skating / short track agree with “their” chairman.
Your division begins with training in the summer holidays after the ice hockey camps, explained Constanze Mentz, who is temporarily head of the department.
"Time is very important, there is no school here yet and you can train intensively to be prepared for the season." Especially since the first performance tests begin at the end of September.
"In the last week of summer vacation we have been advertising a course for vacation children for years in the vacation program in Grafing and Ebersberger Ferienspaß," Mentz continued.
“In the years before Corona, we had up to 50 children at this event.” She said, “that the ice rink, just like the outdoor pool and the other sports facilities, are a major upgrade of the city and the entire district that need to be preserved ".
With regard to energy consumption, one might have to counteract with facts, says Constanze Mentz.
"It would certainly be interesting to see how the per capita energy consumption is over the season and how it compares to swimming pools, air conditioning, air travel, etc."
The fate of ice sports in the district depends on the stadium
Renate Ulrich, head of department and head coach of the short trackers, said that she understood the critics of the summer ice cream, but ultimately the “for” clearly outweighs the problem. "It is the only stadium in the district and also offers many children and young people the opportunity to do sports outside of competitive sports." And there are some who no longer do short track competitions and still come to training regularly.
Ulrich also admits: “We have always valued and enjoyed the 'luxury' of having ice cream from the end of August.” However, the concept of performance plays an immense role across all sports at the EHC. "For us it was and is very important to have ice so early, after all, the first competitions always take place right after the summer vacation." Without this possibility, a lot would change. Ulrich believes: "If there were no more ice rinks in Grafing, this would probably mean the end of our division." And - if you spin the thread further - also that of the EHC Klostersee or ice sports in the Ebersberg district.
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