BERLIN – “Together with the clubs, we want to develop strategies to attract people to arenas to make the Champions Hockey League a success,” said Hannes Ederer, Deputy General Secretary of the International Ice Hockey Federation, during a press conference in Berlin. The reason for the trip was a site visit with Patrick Jost, Director Events of Ovation Sports, the agency which will develop the commercial aspects of the CHL.

Representatives of the IIHF and Ovation Sports are visiting all venues of the participating clubs from Europe’s top-seven nations. Ederer and Jost were given a comprehensive tour of the building site and the possibilities that the new arena O2 World in central Berlin, which will be the new home of Eisbaren Berlin, will offer for international ice hockey.

Jost added warm words after the Berlin trip: “All clubs are very enthusiastic to be part of the CHL and confident to be successful with this new competition.”

Even though it is the freshman season for the CHL, which will be expanded in the 2009-2010 season, the most important issue was solved by obtaining the finances for three years. More money should be generated by selling broadcasting rights. “Our attention is turned to be present on free TV. It’s our goal that the CHL can be watched for free but we’re also studying offers from pay-TV broadcasters,” says Jost. “Negotiations are in full swing.”

After the draw in April at the IIHF headquarters in Zurich, the CHL now prepares for next steps, like the presentation of the Champions Hockey League logo.

Meanwhile, in a poll amongst Eisbaren fans, the supporters expressed their enthusiasm for the Champions Hockey League. 97 per cent of the fans participating in the poll said that they are interested in the club's international games. 37 per cent voted that Metallurg Magnitogorsk is the more interesting opponent while 23 per cent favour Karpat Oulu, and 38 per cent don't care about the foreign rivals as long as Eisbaren Berlin is participating.

Click here for more information about the Champions Hockey League
Click here to see the groups and schedule
Click here for the Champions Hockey League newsletter