Mannheim (dpa / lsw) – According to Managing Director Matthias Binder from the top ice hockey club Adler Mannheim, inflation and the corona crisis have a negative effect on the number of spectators in the major indoor sports. Because of the general price increase, the purchasing power of some people is “simply no longer available,” said Binder of the German Press Agency.
While the Adler in the German Ice Hockey League welcomed an average of well over 11,000 spectators in the SAP Arena before the pandemic, there are currently only around 9,300. Fewer fans are also coming to other first division clubs in Baden-Württemberg the halls than before the Corona period. In addition to the Bundesliga basketball team from ratiopharm Ulm, whose hall has been sold out for years with 6,200 spectators, this also applies, for example, to the two-time German handball champion Rhein-Neckar Löwen. Both are currently more than 20 percent fewer fans.
However, the reluctance does not apply to all ice hockey fans, said Adler manager Binder. “Society is drifting apart. Our VIP tickets are gone quickly, but cheaper tickets are not,” said the manager of the eight-time German champion. In addition, there are “still people who do not go to major events because of Corona”. They stayed at home out of concern for their health.
However, there are exceptions. The volleyball players from the German champions and cup winners Allianz MTV Stuttgart welcomed 6145 spectators in the Stuttgart Porsche Arena at the Supercup against SC Potsdam at the beginning of November. That was a record for the women’s Bundesliga.
