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The Champions Hockey League has made some changes this season. Not everyone was well received.
The 2023/24 Champions Hockey League season featured a few changes:
- Number of teams: Now only 24 instead of 32 clubs were included.
- Modus: Instead of a group phase, there was a kind of “regular season”. Each of the 24 teams played 6 games against 6 different opponents – 3 home, 3 away. The points resulted in a ranking with all 24 teams. The best 16 qualified for the knockout phase.
- Rule change for 2-minute penalties: If there was a goal in excess, the penalty still continued. However, if the team scored a goal when they were outnumbered, the penalty against the box play team was terminated.
Legend: Not yet the desired spectacle in all respects The Champions Hockey League is still struggling with the acceptance of spectators and media. imago images/Bildbyran
The rule changes in particular were sometimes met with a lack of understanding. “You play with different rules on the weekend than during the week. That was confusing for the spectators and probably also the referees. I didn’t understand that,” said Biel managing director Daniel Villard.
We were right across the board for having the courage to do something different.
But the statistics prove those responsible for the Champions Hockey League right. In particular, the number of shorthanders increased significantly; over 30 percent more shorthanded hits were recorded in the group phase.
Love of money is a constant theme
“We were right across the board for having the courage to do something different. It was never our goal to copy the other leagues. Our credo from the start was to be different,” says CHL CEO Martin Baumann.
When it comes to spectator interest and changes in mode, there was definitely positive feedback from the Swiss clubs. From a financial perspective, however, competition remains unattractive. As a quarter-finalist, Rapperswil-Jona can barely make a profit.
If Geneva-Servette wins the Champions Hockey League, it will collect 360,000 euros. For comparison: every point won in the Football Champions League earned the Young Boys around three times as much last autumn. The ZSC Lions earned at least 2.5 million francs when they triumphed in the previous competition in 2009.
Revenue belongs to the clubs
How should this problem be counteracted? The Champions Hockey League tries to give the clubs as many rights as possible, said Baumann. Everything that is generated in the stadium – i.e. ticket revenue and catering – belongs to the clubs.
If you follow a smart ticketing strategy, then the calculation should work for most clubs. But: “The prize money is and will of course remain an issue.”