The construction work is in full swing. What will be different for the upcoming season?
During summer, the capacity of the BOSSARD Arena will be increased from 7,200 to 7,700 seats. Ibi Can, Head of Marketing & Sales, explains the impact this will have on ticket sales in an interview.
With regard to the planned stadium expansion ‘Keep Building’, additional seats are already being created. On the one hand, by partially increasing the distance between seats where this makes sense, and on the other hand by creating new, additional seats, such as two rows of seats right up to the edge of the pitch. These optimisations will create 600 new seats, which will have to be re-labelled. With a view to the further expansion of the stadium, we have therefore already revised the entire sector labelling.
What does this mean for existing season ticket holders?
For existing season ticket holders, only the name of their seat will actually change, but the location in the stadium will remain the same.
What happens to the additional seats created?
We have received many enquiries from interested parties who would like to purchase a season ticket with seats. Unfortunately, we have had to turn these down, as the new seats will only be sold as individual tickets. We are reliant on these seats as alternative options if other sectors have to be closed during the further renovation phase. This is the only way we can guarantee that all season ticket holders will always have a seat in the stadium.
Despite 600 new places, capacity has only increased by 500 to 7,700. Why is that?
As part of the expansion, we have also scrutinised the way seats are counted in the BOSSARD Arena; for example, the media seats are no longer counted as part of the spectator capacity.
The media stand was also rebuilt.
That’s right, the media seats for the writing press are now located on the south side, above the boxes. A spacious new media room will also be created directly behind it. The TV commentators and the teams’ video coaches will remain on the north side.
The renewal period for existing season ticket holders ended on 30 June. Will there be season tickets available for interested parties?
The majority of existing season ticket holders will renew, all signs point to this. It is possible that individual standing tickets will go on sale, more information will follow. If you are interested in a season ticket or individual tickets in general, it is best to register for our new «Ticketalarm» at evz.ch/tickets-kaufen – a newsletter that provides the latest information on ticket sales. We expect to stop sales at around 6,000 season tickets again this year. However, the numerous enquiries show that there is a great appetite for more season tickets. We are therefore reliant on the expansion.
What is the status of the Women’s Team?
We got off to a very good start last year and were able to set a new standard in Switzerland with the average number of spectators. The feedback from spectators was very positive and many were surprised by the attractiveness of the game. The matches in the PostFinance Women’s League (PFWL), the highest Swiss women’s league, promise to be very exciting with duels against Bern, Zurich and Davos. We would be delighted if even more spectators came to support the team in the coming season. The games are particularly attractive for families with children due to the kick-off times and the whole surrounding programme. We will play 14 home games in the PFWL, plus games in the National Cup and certainly also international test games again. Season tickets are available for CHF 140. Our existing season ticket holders of the Men’s Team will benefit from a special offer until the start of the season.
When will individual tickets go on sale for home matches in the 2024/25 season?
The pre-sale starts in mid-August. We are delighted that we will finally be able to offer a good number of individual seat tickets! The rink seats in particular, which will be located directly at the edge of the ice rink, will offer an exclusive view of the game and a unique experience. Tickets for the men’s team’s 26 home games will once again be delivered to season ticket holders this
season ticket holders in four stages of 7-8 games each. The prices for existing seated and standing tickets as well as season tickets remain unchanged and can be viewed at evz.ch/tickets-kaufen.
This article appeared in the current issue of EISZEIT Business.
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