President Pildner-Steinburg takes stock of the interim season

The first season in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League started just under three months ago. Looking back, how satisfied are you with the decision to start the season?
Jochen Pildner-Steinburg: "We had many discussions within the league. With the start of the season on September 25, we made the right decision and were also pioneers. We knew that there would be a lot of hurdles to overcome. Accordingly, everyone was aware that we would only be able to start the new season with a joint effort. This cohesion was and is immensely important. The eleven clubs participating in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League were willing to take an economic risk on themselves, for which each and every one deserves special recognition."

How important was the interaction with politics to be able to start the 2020/21 season at all?
Jochen Pildner-Steinburg: "Of course, no one could really predict what impact the pandemic would actually have on games operations. We were always in constructive exchange with the public authorities and were able to set the right course early on. We were assured of support right from the start by Vice Chancellor and Sports Minister Werner Kogler and in meetings with Health Minister Rudolf Anschober. The league management subsequently worked out spectator and safety concepts with the clubs, which were deemed excellent by the relevant ministries. In the process, medical and organizational preventive measures were taken to ensure that the championship could be held as planned - always bearing in mind that the health of everyone involved must be guaranteed in the best possible way. This long process was necessary to make a 2020/21 season even possible."

After the teams started the season with limited spectator capacity, the last game to date was played in front of fans in Salzburg on October 23. What are the economic effects here?
Jochen Pildner-Steinburg: "From an economic point of view, the question of spectator capacity has been one of the biggest uncertainties. At the beginning of the season, some clubs were still able to plan for up to 1,500 spectators, but very soon this important source of income disappeared altogether. Again, we had good discussions with the politicians, who quickly assured us of support from the sports fund for both the cancelled 2020 playoffs and the current championship. That worked smoothly."

On Tuesday - the last matchday before Christmas - five matches can take place as scheduled again after a long time. How do you assess the sporting level of the league?
Jochen Pildner-Steinburg: "We were faced with match postponements from the very first round due to positive Covid 19 cases within the club organizations, but we also coped well with the longer break. Since this meant that not all teams were able to play the same number of games, the strain on some teams is currently very high. From a sporting point of view, the favorites have established themselves in front. However, this season also shows that anyone can beat anyone. And that's what makes the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League, the fight for the playoff places ensures - as every year - special excitement early in the championship. There is great ice hockey on offer, we have definitely been able to maintain the high level of the league."

Many teams are also relying on local talents this season. How do you see the development in the junior area?
Jochen Pildner-Steinburg: "In very many teams, young players are given a chance, and the clubs deserve a lot of praise for that. Although individuals sometimes portray it differently, the clubs do very good youth work. Time and again, talented players quickly go abroad and are lost to the league. The recent successes of the Austrian U20, where many players have a league connection, show among other things how well work is done. The players deserve to compete against the best in their age group and I wish them all the best for the upcoming World Juniors. All future years will benefit from their successes."

Over the past few months, work has been going full steam ahead on a streaming solution. How do you assess this project?
Jochen Pildner-Steinburg: "Work has already been done in the past on possible streaming variants to expand our offering once again. It is a very good solution, especially in these times, to continue to be visible and stay close to the fans. The clubs manage to create a stadium atmosphere even in an empty arena through a regular matchday schedule. This makes the fans feel closer to the action and it also satisfies the partners. We will continue this project in the future, the financial support from the Ministry of Sports gives us the necessary economic security. Together with the broadcasts of our TV partners Sky and PULS 24, fans can continue to look forward to TV-quality game experiences."

In recent weeks, ice hockey fans have been able to watch a bet-at-home ICE Hockey League match live almost every day due to the postponements. Are multiple game days a future model for the league?
Jochen Pildner-Steinburg: "Streaming has once again shown that fan interest is high and that ice hockey can be played on every day of the week. We will analyze possible variants for the future together and consider new developments."

As president of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League, what do you wish for the year 2021?
Jochen Pildner-Steinburg: "The pious wish to the Christ Child would be that we soon experience the enthusiasm of the fans in the arenas again. But we are aware of the special challenges and privations in these times. We hope that the fans will also remain loyal to us through our newly created streaming offer. It's important to us to show that the league is stable in its management, even in unstable times. We want to bring the championship to a successful conclusion and crown a champion again. In addition, we are well prepared for the next season and will continue to work together to achieve our goals. In a big league, there are always differences of opinion and we will discuss topics intensively. However, everyone is aware that togetherness is paramount.

I wish all club representatives, players, referees, fans and the entire ice field hockey family a Merry Christmas."