Eisstadion Biel

EHC Biel ( since 1973)

The ice rink Biel (French: Patinoire ) is the ice hockey stadium the city of Biel. It is since its completion in 1973, the home of the EHC Biel.

By the way take place in and around the stadium are other occasions such as Games of the Swiss national ice hockey team or the Bieler 100 - km run.

History

As in Biel of encouragement for a new, covered ice rink increased and the open ice rink, as well as the infrastructure was no longer worthy of a club in the size of the EHC Biel took the then President of the EHC Willy Gassmann the initiative. Finally, he managed to convince even the voters of the idea and so the start of construction in 1971 was nothing in the way. As the location Bözingenfeld was chosen which was the city just to the west. Minor delays meant that the stadium could be opened until they are about 3 months late and EHC Biel had to remain in exile in Lyss little longer. At the start of the second half then found 3,000 spectators the way to the new, ultra-modern stadium and saw a 3-3 draw against HC Davos.

International premiere celebrated the stadium on January 20, 1973 with the match between Switzerland - Romania (2:3), which was attended by 4,000 spectators. With the success of the EHC and the utilization of the hall, which reached its peak on November 22, 1975 increased as 9'411 enthusiastic spectators the derby of the riser against the Canton rivals SC Bern (4:3) followed.

For safety reasons and some smaller construction scheme, the capacity was reduced gradually to 7,000. As far last structural measure was built a two-story VIP lounge at the stadium in 2004, in which the sponsors and donors can watch the games themselves.

Future

The future of the stadium looks rather bleak. It can neither infrastructure nor safety keep up with today's demands. As a negative peak broke up in the summer of 2005 even a plate of the ceiling and fell to the ground. As an immediate measure a net was stretched to the ceiling, which should prevent further such cases.

On December 9, 2007, the Bieler voters stood behind the construction of new sports stadiums: The city receives so until the year 2015, three new arenas for football ( 6,000 places to 10,000 seats expandable), ice hockey ( 7,000 places 2'500 standing and 4,500 seats) and curling.

For the 7,000 -seat hockey rink and a curling facility cost of 46.5 million Swiss francs are provided. In addition, the construction of three outdoor sports arenas and the dismantling of the existing ice rink and curling rink.