Grandstand N ° 4
The Coronavirus pandemic that has been crippling economic activity in our country for many weeks will inevitably have serious consequences for French ice hockey in the coming months. The stoppage, before their conclusion, of all the national championships this season – from the Magnus League to the Federal Trophy – has already caused a worrying shortfall for certain clubs in France.
This is particularly the case for those who had already played some first leg matches in the away games and who relied heavily on the revenues of the home matches in front of their home crowd to offset their travel costs. Unfortunately, the sudden cessation of competition, due to the general confinement of the country, prevented the collection of these often vital inflows. Without forgetting that there is also a part of the financial aids of the sponsors, planned during the month of April, which were postponed or even sometimes canceled.
If the absence of the allocation of 98e national title in Magnus League or 80e Title in Division 1 represents only a temporary freezing of the charts, the fact remains that it is the whole of the already fragile structure of French ice hockey that has been badly shaken. To take a single example, let us quote that of the Châlons-en-Champagne club which has just officially requested to be demoted from Division 2 to Division 3 because its leaders estimated in an official statement, I quote: “that the risk of staying in Division 2 was too ambitious and they couldn’t afford it anymore. ”
To remain optimistic, I would point out that, conversely, the Poitiers club asked for permission to leave the D3 next season to join the D2. But the president Ronan Nedelec, who hopes to obtain the federal agreement, intends to agree with certain other clubs to obtain from them loans of blue licenses which concern the players of less than 23 years who do not have enough hours of ice in their local teams. They will be able to come and reinforce the Poitevin workforce …
I would like to remain optimistic when I also note that, in spite of the uncertainty which hangs over the immediate future of French hockey, many clubs have nevertheless embarked again on all-out recruitments either of foreign reinforcements or of French players . But I would like to know at what price? Definitely at a discount! Because if I take for example the case of a club which evolves this season in Division 1, its payroll currently amounts to 159,000 euros in total. However, the assistance of the private partners of this club represents 100,000 euros. What if this aid were to decrease? “We sail by sight” told me its president …
The biggest problem that is likely to arise most acutely during the next season is, above all, that of financial aid that allows clubs to survive. Indeed, this essential and often vital windfall, risks diminishing sharply because local authorities (region, department, agglomeration, municipalities) will most certainly have to make a choice by first supporting in priority the companies in their sector which are in difficulty. So how high are the next grants for ice hockey going to be?
On the other hand, the vast majority of private partners who support French ice hockey clubs are small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which have unfortunately also been victims of a sudden and prolonged shutdown of their activities. Suddenly, they may have to decrease, or even sometimes reluctantly interrupt, their aid to our clubs which are already skating on very fine ice ready to break at the slightest defect in cash.
And to finish this not very pleasing panorama, it should not be forgotten also that many French clubs had to cancel in April or May their traditional local tournaments, which are sometimes international in small categories, and which allowed also to bring additional income into the budgets. I’m also mindful of the private internships that may also be canceled during the summer season if the grouping restrictions remain very tight. Again, the additional resources of some coaches will be severely impacted.
It remains to be seen what the FFHG, which already has a modest operating budget (6 million euros) given the small number of clubs (125) and its licensees (22,000), can do to help its way all of its affiliated clubs. It could possibly temporarily suspend the increase in the price of licenses which was to increase according to a plan drawn up over five years. In addition, we already know that certain leagues are also considering solutions such as that of the Ile-de-France region which has decided to lower the cost of membership fees for its clubs by 25% and to extend payment terms.
So, because of this Covid-19 pandemic that has swept all the ice rinks in France, will there be more or less serious consequences for French ice hockey in the coming months? Unfortunately, we can fear it. We will have to fight and no doubt resolve to drastic savings. But I still remain optimistic about the ability of our clubs to overcome this ordeal despite the difficulties that lie ahead. Because all ice hockey fans, whether players, managers, referees or supporters, have in their blood another virus, which is just as contagious and just as virulent, capable of fighting adversity: that of passion for this sport! Nothing can stop this unconditional love for hockey, even if it means making concessions that are sometimes restrictive.
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