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| PIC: Stephen McCaskill |
In the summer of 2010, EV Zug completed the move from their
home of over forty years to a brand new, ultra-modern arena. The need for a new
stadium had been apparent for some time as the Eishalle Herti, in which EVZ
have played since 1967, had not aged well and plans were made to move. The end
result was the 7,015 capacity Bossard Arena which is billed as the most modern
hockey stadium in Switzerland, and after my first visit, I am inclined to
believe the hype.
The old Herti could be best described as a giant shed with
an ice rink inside. Seats were cramped and uncomfortable while standing areas
were even worse. Every facility within the stadium, be it turnstiles or food
stands, felt squashed and compacted. While some fans have bemoaned the loss of
atmosphere, there is no doubt that the old arena was unsuitable for a
top-flight hockey team in the 21st century.
The Bossard Arena improves on the old stadium in almost
every conceivable aspect. Firstly, the seats are spacious and easily accessible
while standing areas exist for both home and away supporters. A giant LCD
screen above the rink replaces the archaic scoreboards while modern lighting creates
a sense of spectacle. Entering and exiting the ground is no longer a chore
while areas inside the stadium are much bigger, ensuring that facilities don’t
feel like an afterthought.
Hospitality has also been improved dramatically. While this
is probably of no concern to those cheering on EVZ in the stands, the new
facilities will surely increase revenue. As one of the wealthiest towns in
Switzerland, if not Europe, Zug is host to a number of multinational
corporations and the new dining and hospitality areas will hope to attract a
greater number of corporate events. A new restaurant overlooks the ice and
allows diners to eat while watching the game and a private room is available
for functions. These facilities are a drastic improvement on the previous
hospitality tent, which although offered great service, was situated outside of
the stadium.
I was fortunate to be able to sample these facilities during
my visit to see EVZ face local rivals Zurich. EVZ are enjoying a good season
and are currently in 3rd position in the NLA having already
qualified for the post season play-offs. Games between these two teams are
usually feisty encounters and this was no exception with a number of penalties
issued by the match officials. The ZSC Lions barely troubled EVZ who emerged
comfortable 3-0 winners in front of a capacity crowd, who were delighted as
seeing their team defeat the 2009 European and Victoria Cup champions.
While there was great sadness that accompanies any such
move, the move to the Bossard Arena will hopefully be a positive one for the
club as they aim to add to their only championship, which they won in 1998.
Some fans may miss the old ground, but if it’s good enough for Kimi, it’s good
enough for me.
Match Photos: EVZ 3-0 ZSC Lions
Match Photos: EVZ 3-0 ZSC Lions
