Black Wings Linz: reached semi -finals, but the KAC leads!

Black Wings Linz: reached semi -finals, but the KAC leads!

The Black Wings Linz have reached the semi -finals of the Win2day Ice Hockey League after seven years of abstinence. In the best-of-Seven series against the KAC, however, the team is currently 1: 2 behind the opponent. President Peter Nader, who has been running the club since May 2021, is still satisfied with the previous course of the season and emphasizes that the original goal of reaching the playoffs has already been achieved - everything else is a bonus.

Nader, who took over the office in turbulent times, emphasizes that the association stabilized through sustainable and honest work and achieved success. A remarkable moment of the season was the playoff series against Graz, which went into history with six overtime decisions and represents a world record. The crowd in the arena, which offers space for 4,865 fans, shows the increased interest in ice hockey in Linz.

strategies for the future

A central concern of Nader is the promotion of self -made actors in the team, which is supported by the “Strategy 2030”. However, the association faces challenges in the integration of Austrian players due to high market prices. Patrick Söllinger is mentioned as an example of a successful owner player, whose long -term bond is a goal of the club. In addition, Nader wants to promote the integration of fans and players more to preserve a family atmosphere.

In order to reduce costs, the club has hired the second team, the Steel Wings Linz. Nader emphasizes the importance of not expanding the sports hall to get the mood during the games. One aspect that he does not want to neglect is the marketing of the league itself, considering the collaboration of all clubs as essential.

sponsors and economic challenges

Financial support from sponsors is crucial for the success of the clubs and Nader is pleased to have recovered large sponsors such as Linz AG and Liwest. In contrast, many ice hockey clubs in Germany are fighting a difficult year in which they had to do without game practice and ghost games for months. This situation has led to a decline in income, since missing spectators also means that sponsors are less available in the arenas. At clubs such as the Cologne Haien and Krefeld penguins, there are even financial difficulties and bankruptcy, while others like Cashpoint, a subsidiary of the Gauselmann Group, show great interest in sponsorship in ice hockey.

The challenges in sponsorship should not be underestimated, because while large companies like Penny have become the main sponsor to the DEL, return to smaller local companies is considered important. These could create a close network among the clubs and thus strengthen the financial basis of each individual team. Despite the difficulties, sponsors continue to show loyalty to the clubs and associations, which is confident for future cooperation.