Invitation-To-Tender Issued for New European Ice Hockey Tournament Commercial Rights

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Europe’s leading clubs and their respective leagues are aiming to launch a new European club competition to begin in the 2014/15 season. An Invitation-to-Tender (ITT) has been issued today for the competition’s commercial rights.

All European Ice Hockey stakeholders met in Barcelona last year to work on a proposal for a new commercially viable new annual competition for Europe’s leading clubs, which could fit into the international calender. The proposal currently has a working name of European Club Competition (ECC).

These stakeholders are now in the process of forming a shareholder company, of which the clubs will be the majority shareholders.

IIHF Vice President Kalervo Kummola, chairman of the “Barcelona Coordination Working Group” which oversaw the entire process, said: “When we met for the first time one year ago, nobody could really tell in which direction this would develop,” says Kummola. “But it also goes to show how much you can accomplish if you work together towards a common goal.”

“We are excited to be able to invite potential tenders to bid for the commercial rights to our European club competition.”

Timo Everi, IFK Helsinki chairman and European Trophy board member, added: “This has been a unique process of cooperation in the history of European hockey. We have a come a long way, there is still lot of work to be done, but we have reached a stage where we are confident issuing this invitation to tender.”