Such more or less informal exchanges often occur, at least between club managers who are on good terms. However, it became clear by June at the latest that this had turned into something more.
Milan Joins the League
This is when the vote for HC Milano's entry into the league took place.
Despite the application deadline (January 15) and the General Assembly date (March 15) being overshot by months, the executive board waved through the voting process, openly campaigning for the first applicant in league history who, as a mere project, could not prove either regular operations or an arena. Several club representatives independently spoke of "phone terror" before the vote.
Even before the voting day on June 1 (!), HC Innsbruck withdrew from the original six-team opposition, and Pioneers Vorarlberg were persuaded to change their minds minutes before the vote. This was just enough for the necessary two-thirds majority for Milano.
Curiously: Out of allegiance, Bolzano and Pustertal also brought their own competition into the fold.
However, Andrea Gios, who initiated both the desolate Asiago project and HC Milano, was to be voted out of office as President of the Italian Ice Hockey Federation just two months later.
The Three Factions of the League
After this vote, the league split into three factions:
The opposition teams from Vienna, Linz, Graz, and Villach
The now six international teams, as well as KAC and Salzburg, whose executive board members Johannes Schwaiger and Rene Dimter, respectively, voted for Milano.
The "non-aligned states" of Innsbruck and Pioneers, who were temporarily ostracized by their former allies.
On the other hand, due to their sporting and financial shortcomings, the two cannot expect much sympathy from the other teams. A reported statement from an executive board member: "We are an international league, regardless of whether Innsbruck is part of it or not."
This was not the only disparaging remark about league members that circulated in recent weeks. Additionally, there are denials, attenuations, apologies – both sides have enough stories to tell here that often starkly contradict each other.
Request for Termination of the League Manager
Christian Feichtinger, with his company "PROFS," has been managing the operations of the EBEL/ICE since 2000. Criticism is naturally part of such a long tenure, but this year it even went so far that critics suggested terminating his contract.
However, this sounds more dramatic than it was. The dissatisfied participants merely wanted to utilize the nine-month notice period to review PROFS' books again, find savings and alternatives, and not continue employing the company in a reduced form or as before.
The executive board, however, rejected this request, which would have had to be implemented by July 31, which was not surprising. As the governing body of the league (and not the teams themselves), the executive board decides on the appointment and dismissal of its managing director, who is subordinate to it, and there is no daylight between the managing director and the executive board.
The league points out that this request was also presented to them for the first time on the same day, making timely implementation impossible. Furthermore, offers for discussions from the opposing side were not taken up, which, of course, is denied in turn.
The Bones of Contention in the League and the Counter-Arguments:
Excessive Organizational Costs and Insufficient Revenues from Sponsorship and Media Rights
During the heyday under Erste Bank and with TV support from ServusTV, Austrian participants annually received a substantial six-figure sum directly into their coffers. The international teams came away empty-handed but, like the Austrian teams, did not have to bear any organizational costs.
In recent years, no money flowed directly anymore (except for pro-rata streaming revenues through Sporteurope.tv); instead, organizational costs must be paid to PROFS. For the current season, this would be 84,000 Euros per team, but Milano's entry will reduce this to 64,000 Euros.
However, in contrast to the Erste Bank heyday, the league points out that today, unlike back then, licensing fees to the ÖEHV and referee fees (a total of approx. 1.5 million Euros) are no longer billed to the Austrian teams but are covered in advance, in addition to generally rising costs.
In addition to Feichtinger, the league operations include "Director of Hockey Operations" Lyle Seitz, referee boss Viki Trilar, and Michi Suttnig (AlpsHL), all with clearly declared price tags. The remaining 18 PROFS employees are partially billed hourly, which some teams find too unpredictable.
Internationalization Without Reciprocity?
The capital club from Bratislava. Asiago with the announced Venetian millionaires. Ferencvaros as another capital club, and now Milano. "We think in markets" – marketing jargon that is objectionable to some domestic club representatives.
Nothing really remained from Bratislava and Asiago; for Budapest and Milano, the league refers to ongoing or just starting "marketing measures" – a euphemism for a certain entry fee that reduces costs for the other teams.
However, win2day remains the only major sponsor as an Austrian company; no Hungarian or Italian financial backers are visible on the boards or jerseys.
This would also be a help for the Austrian teams, which have so far relied on public funds. Cuts are imminent everywhere in Austria, so the timing of these discussions is certainly not arbitrary.
Neither the managing director nor the executive board now claim to be major acquirers themselves. This led to the involvement of several external agencies and individuals, who, of course, must be compensated in case of success (or even lack thereof).
No one disputes anymore that the continuous admission of international teams is intended to plug financial holes. The "Austrian league with international participation" then became an "international league under Austrian sports law" three years ago.
The domestic teams have certainly lost the upper hand – in votes (e.g., on changes to roster regulations), a 2/3 majority would no longer even be possible. Additionally, home games against international opponents – perhaps even during the week – are anything but box office hits and often need to be sweetened with free or discounted tickets.
Communication Deficit or Overload?
Club representatives complain about insufficient or delayed information; the final presentation of Milano is said to have also happened at the last minute, and general assemblies are reportedly rushed through.
The league, in turn, counters by pointing to regularly distributed financial forecasts and reports, as well as written and audiovisual previews for league meetings.
Whether every manager has truly studied this information in detail beforehand is doubted not only by the creators. Conversely, these reports are usually said to be characterized by exaggerated optimism.
Roster Regulations
The difference from other European leagues: four countries with different tax rules and player markets must be brought under one roof. The point system and the (already shaky) restrictions on dual citizens were just some attempts to solve this problem.
Now new rules are to be found again – an overreaction to three international semifinal participants last year or urgently necessary? Dual citizens, especially in Italy, are repeatedly a subject of discussion here.
Milano proceeded exactly as expected here and vacuumed up all unattached Italian players, currently holding 18 domestic players born in North America or Sweden. It's understandable that Austrians can hardly counter this with 18-year-old local players.
There are dozens of other points of contention that have been discussed publicly or privately recently. The league is (once again) facing a severe test, especially with a mega-project like the Winter Classic in Bischofshofen (already marked by public disputes) on the horizon.
Will everything remain as it often does, will new business models emerge (a GmbH with internal managing directors instead of an external agency?), or will the ÖEHV (rather unthinkable) get more involved again?
The coming months will bring heated battles not only on the ice...
