Impulse event in Cologne / Reindl: “Need continuity and security”
The Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (DEB) advocates for the construction and renovation of ice surfaces in Germany. “We need continuity and security for our young talent work and therefore a large number of new ice surfaces in the medium term,” explained DEB-President Franz Reindl at an impulse event in Cologne in front of 140 representatives from politics, business and sport.
Together with investors, project developers, construction companies as well as media representatives and representatives of the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF, Reindl discussed the ice sports association Nordrhein-Westfalen initiated event the current situation regarding the provision of training facilities in Germany.
And things are anything but rosy: the approximately 250 ice rinks in Germany have an average age of around 40 years. “That means we will soon have massive problems maintaining the functionality of a large number of these halls. “This is the main reason why significant investments are necessary to renovate these facilities,” said Reindl.
But renovating existing projects is only part of the problem. “If you look at the fact that there are 500 ice rinks in the Greater Toronto Area alone, it quickly becomes clear that we are also lacking new arenas,” said Reindl. So he hopes DEB-President that – along with that DEB-Concept “POWERPLAY 26” – “a few new halls will be added in the next few years.”
The focus of these projects should not be on high-gloss arenas, but rather on ice surfaces that require an investment volume of between four to six million euros. “With such a sum it is possible to build a solid ice rink.”
After a good four hours of intensive discussion, Franz Reindl was sure that he had provided “an important impulse”: “Our job is to point out sources and resources. Ultimately, the initiative for the construction of halls must come from the grassroots,” stated one satisfied person DEB-President.
The plan is to hold this format regularly, to promote exchange between the various interest groups and thus create an open discussion platform for this topic alone. Because, says Franz Reindl: “Without ice, no ice hockey.”