The ice hockey season has ended due to the corona epidemic. But what's next? The bosses of the two Bayern league teams in the district don't know at the moment either.
Erding / Dorfen - Actually, the best time of the year should have started for ice hockey players and fans. The Erding Gladiators were about to start the playoff, the ESC Dorfen before the decisive games for relegation in the Bayernliga. Now the Bavarian Ice Sports Association (BEV) has stopped playing with immediate effect because of Corona. What are the consequences for the clubs? The department heads Manfred Detterbeck (Dorfen) and Rainier Sabus (Erding) comment.
How happy or how sad are you about the sudden end of the season?
Detterbeck: Honestly: I'm not too sad in the current sporting situation in which we find ourselves. We would have contested our last squad this weekend against Schongau due to our misery. however, I am sure that the boys gave their all and were strong enough to beat Schongau. So I see it with a crying and a laughing eye.
Sabus: I'm already sad. I would have loved to play Passau in the playoff quarter-finals, beat them and then play the semi-finals. In terms of sport, that's the worst part.
What are the economic consequences for the association?
Sabus: So the basic expenses for the players are there. By reaching the playoffs, they have earned the bonus that they are entitled to, even if there are no playoffs now. If I think that we would have had around 1200 spectators at home, and that is rather cautiously estimated, we missed around 13,000 euros. Of course we also saved something, such as the bus costs to Passau or the referee costs, but they don't really matter.
Detterbeck: We would have had an above-average visit in the home game against Schongau this evening. The players are paid until the last matchday - and that was last Sunday. Well, we saved the bus to Schongau, so overall the early end means a red zero for us.
What's next for the next few days?
Detterbeck: We have our final training tonight, then there's a small cabin party. The ESC Presidium has decided to close the stadium at 11 p.m., so the season is over. What sense would it make to have the public run or the ice disco take place? In my opinion, that would be counterproductive.
Sabus: We want to train until March 22nd, after that we have to vacate the hall because of the renovation.
What is the planning for the coming season?
Sabus: Summer training should start again at the end of April and beginning of May. As far as the wide view is concerned, I hope that Corona will be under control by September and that everything can go as usual.
Detterbeck: We plan normally for the Bayern League.
Because the Bavarian Ice Sports Association has already sent a corresponding message that no club should be disadvantaged?
Sabus: There is probably no concrete, detailed regulation yet. It will take a while for the BEV to sort this out.
Detterbeck: So I assume that Dorfen and Schongau will stay in the Bayernliga. How do you want to do it otherwise? Main round placement? Intermediate round placement? Direct comparison? I lack any imagination. We would also be better than Schongau anywhere.
How about the ascent and descent?
Detterbeck: The way I interpret it means that Sonthofen and Höchstadt remain in the top division. Should Sonthofen drop out for economic reasons, Miesbach could move up. The only problem I see when getting out of the national league. With Buchloe, Kempten, Ulm and Amberg there are four teams that you would like to see in the Bayernliga in the promotion playoffs - in both series it is 1-1. Maybe you can pull up all four teams and increase the Bayernliga accordingly. I have complete confidence in the BEV.
Sabus: In the end we have to wait and see what the BEV decides.
Are you planning a final ceremony with the fans?
Sabus: It is being planned and we would of course like to do it, especially after this strong season. But we also have to wait for developments.
Detterbeck: We will definitely not have a closing ceremony with the fans. I wanted to host another regulars' table, which we are now dropping out. We want to have a summer party in mid-May, and we are already planning it.
Wolfgang Krzizok