DEL: Wintergame 2019 in Cologne

As expected, the Cologne sharks were awarded the contract for the DEL’s Wintergame 2019. This was announced by the DEL on Monday.

On the 12th. In January 2019, the sharks will meet the Duesseldorf EC at the Cologne RheinEnergie Stadium in the Derby. Up to 50,000 spectators can experience the spectacle in the open air.

“We are very pleased that our application for the Wintergame was successful and that our concept convinced the responsible persons”, said KEC Managing Director Oliver Müller.

The DEL had announced that its decision would be taken by the 16th century. February. However, as the KEC was, according to several media sources, the only candidate, the club was awarded the contract well before the original deadline.

On the 19th. The KEC submitted its application on 1 January. The club plans with a budget “in the low seven-digit range”, Müller had said. The costs were already fully covered at 43 percent capacity (21,500 spectators).

“Accordingly, the risk of economic failure is relatively low if we do our homework well. There is no way that this will become a self-runner,”said Müller. If the match is sold out, a mid-six-figure win is possible.

The sharks had already applied for the Wintergame 2015, which should have taken place in the arena on Schalke. However, the DEL gave this match to Düsseldorf. In the Esprit-Arena with 51,125 spectators a European record was set up for a league match, which DEG beat Cologne 3:2 at that time.