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SC Bern could be celebrated as the “Top of Europe” for 22 seasons. SCB has been number 1 in terms of audience popularity every year – apart from the 2020/21 Corona season with ghost games. But that will change this season. The Bernese are thrown from their throne.
That’s not because SCB fans have walked away. So far, the average of 14,815 is already higher than in the previous season, despite the warm autumn.
Despite this, SCB remains only in second place in the European rankings. Because the Kölner Haie have fantastic viewing figures. The traditional German club has attracted an average of 17,550 fans to the Lanxess Arena (capacity: 18,600) so far.
The Rhinelanders, especially those from Cologne, are easily inspired. The declared “attack on the top” with nine transfers created euphoria for the season after 21 years without a championship title, so that 500 fans started training. “We want to become German champions with passion, ambition and courage,” said director Philipp Walter in a speech. And although NHL legend Uwe Krupp’s team has now dropped to eighth place after a perfect start, the carnival atmosphere has not disappeared.
Lüthi: “The trend reversal has been successful”
The SCB cannot keep up with values like those in Cologne. Impossible. The outdated Postfinance Arena with its enormous standing area has a capacity of only 17,031 people. The SCB record average for the 2016/17 season is 16,399.
“It is what it is,” says SCB boss Marc Lüthi (62) matter-of-factly. “Cologne certainly wanted to do that. But we have to look at ourselves. The trend reversal has been successful, although not yet to the extent we would like.”
It is also possible that the SCB could increase its average in the coming months. “That depends on how we play,” says Lüthi. So far, he and the SCB fans haven’t had much reason to complain under new coach Jussi Tapola. The SCB is in 4th place, but five teams follow within just three points.
To defend its status as “Top of Europe”, the SCB would not only have to improve itself, but also hope that the sharks would invade. Last season, Cologne attracted an average of only 13,901 fans. Lüthi doesn’t want to worry about it. SCB cannot buy anything for the top position in the European public rankings.
The SCB boss does not yet want to reveal what the plans are to modernize the Postfinance Arena.
|
team
|
SP
|
T.D
|
PT
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
 HC Fribourg-Gotteron
|
21
|
21
|
44
|
|
|
2
|
 ZSC Lions
|
21
|
29
|
43
|
|
|
3
|
 EV train
|
20
|
31
|
41
|
|
|
4
|
 SC Bern
|
21
|
1
|
34
|
|
|
5
|
 HC Ambri-Piotta
|
20
|
6
|
32
|
|
|
6
|
 Lausanne HC
|
21
|
0
|
32
|
|
|
7
|
 HC Lugano
|
21
|
4
|
32
|
|
|
8th
|
 Geneva-Servette HC
|
20
|
-8th
|
31
|
|
|
9
|
 HC Davos
|
21
|
5
|
31
|
|
|
10
|
 SCL Tigers
|
21
|
-24
|
28
|
|
|
11
|
 SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
|
21
|
-10
|
24
|
|
|
12
|
 EHC Biel
|
20
|
-12
|
23
|
|
|
13
|
 EHC Kloten
|
21
|
-23
|
20
|
|
|
14
|
 HC Ajoie
|
19
|
-20
|
17
|
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
