The performance of the Vienna Capitals in the 1:4 on Saturday against bottom team ICEHL Pioneers Feldkirch had and has further consequences. After the harsh words of the sports director Christian Dolezal (“That was disastrous and unacceptable”) the players also had to be ready on Monday. But not on the ice.
As the KURIER learned, the team didn’t just lose the day off on Sunday. Vice President spoke at the special training Philipp Felsinger to the team. The speech is said to have been delivered at a considerable volume.
Felsinger announced to the players that they would be on Monday at 5 a.m have to be in front of the STEFFL Arena in Kagran.
What followed was an action that ice hockey players have probably never experienced before. Not that the team had to run penalty laps or do any physical activity. No, asphalt entrepreneur Felsinger let the Capitals professionals on one of his Construction sites bring.
The trainer and sports director were also there
The intent was for players to see how hard people have to work to buy tickets to a hockey game. The players got Work clothes and were until midday on the construction site.
The action was agreed upon with everyone involved, including the President Martin Reiss, as well as head coach Gerry Fleming and sports director Christian Dolezal. The last two mentioned were also there on the construction site. It will not be the only measure after the sporting low point. From now on, the Viennese won’t just do it once in the morning trainedbut also a second time in the afternoon.
Capitals president Martin Reiss reasons: “It was important to us in the executive committee to use this campaign to show the players how hard some people who visit us in the STEFFL Arena have to work in order to be able to afford to go to the hall. It is our mission not to disappoint these people “What inevitably happened, especially with the performance on Saturday. We want to build something that our fans can be proud of. That includes fighting spirit, will, commitment and passion, which the team unfortunately missed on Saturday.”
Viewers are an important budget item
Whether there is a positive reaction from the team will be seen in the next games. The Viennese will be there on Friday Pustertalon Saturday in Bolzano. Until the next home game against Innsbruck on November 29th, the fans will also want to see a different Viennese team.
Die Viewership is one of the reasons why the club reacts so harshly to the poor performances in the home games. The Viennese are there too 4.322 it highest average attendance in the league, but with eight defeats in ten home games, a catastrophic record. If fans stay away from the games, it will have a huge economic impact.