Are the other clubs following this example?: Biel has the solution to the pixel chaos in ice hockey

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It’s a constant nuisance and doesn’t reflect well on our league. The Coaches Challenges, i.e. checking an offside situation on request. However, these are often crushed by the referees because the video recordings are too modest. A camera angle is missing or the pixel resolution is too poor. And then the coach gets a two-minute penalty, even though in some cases he was probably right.

It is a rule in our ice hockey that can currently hardly be implemented in the stadiums with the technical equipment. But that could end next season. It is made possible by EHC Biel, the main sponsor and namesake of the Tissot Arena and a retired Swiss timekeeping legend.

Hürzeler had a good idea

Peter Hürzeler (85) was once head of development of time measuring equipment at Omega and later director of Swiss Timing. At 19 Olympic Games he ensured that the timing was correct and that the correct winners were announced. At mandate level, until well after his retirement. And he witnessed with his own eyes the gigantic technical developments in this field over the past fifty years: time measurement combined with increasingly sharper images.

Today, Hürzeler still sits on the board of directors of Swiss Timing. When an idea comes to him, he starts working on it. And since the resident of Solothurn often watches EHC Biel’s home games in the stadium and has good ties with the club, such an idea occurred to him. Because it cannot be that there is only such bad material available on the screens.

In Biel, for test purposes, cameras have been installed on both sides that deliver 100 images per second instead of only 25. Comparable to the requirements required, for example, in major international sports competitions to be able to recognize decisions down to millimeters. The test material was then shown to the referees in Biel – and they were enthusiastic.

10,000 francs per club and year

Other clubs now also know that the solution for the pixel salad is available in the competition in Biel. And there is now a concrete offer from Tissot. They would install the system in all National League stadiums. This would cost a total of 1.5 million francs. A ten-year contract would be drawn up with the clubs, which would cost them 10,000 francs per season, including maintenance.

What does it take to actually make this happen? A corresponding decision by the National League clubs. “I cannot estimate what the chances are. The priorities are often not the same for all clubs,” says Daniel Villard, CEO of Biel.

Source : Blick