End for Berlin Ice Speedway ?

[iris123]

Press release today doesn't sound good

PRESS RELEASE ICE SPEEDWAY UNION BERLIN Berlin Ice Speedway Press release 231026 Was that it for the Berlin Ice Speedway? Currently no approval for the 49th edition of the capital spectacle The tradition of ice speedway racing in the Horst Dohm Ice Stadium in the Berlin district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, which began in 1975, continued after the Corona-related forced break in March of this year. The cult event was held for the 48th time on March 3rd and 4th, but now it should be over.

In a letter from the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf District Office, School, Sport, Further Education and Culture Department - School and Sports Office / Sports Promotion Department dated June 29, 2023 to the Eisspeedwayunion Berlin (ESU), which has been organizing since 2014, it was informed that "... the district office is currently not intended to cooperate with the Eisspeedwayunion Berlin e. V. to hold another event, to conclude a new contract or to continue a contract that may have been concluded.” At the same time, the contract offer last made on February 28th is revoked, which all together means nothing other than the death knell for the traditional event. But the ESU is not giving up. After all discussions and offers to change or adapt the course of the event were unsuccessful and letters remained partially unanswered, the ESU is currently turning to higher-level authorities and the public.

The new second chairman, Marco Hübner, says: “Of course we need a certain lead time for an event of this dimension and are now trying to make our voices heard in other ways. We are a registered Berlin association and are talking about an event that has been going on for 48 years. We have been commissioned by the FIM motorcycle world association to organize another world championship race next year, which is currently not possible. That is why we are demanding that the responsible office allocate appropriate venue space here in the city of Berlin, which we are legally entitled to as a Berlin club.” The lack of understanding at the ESU about this unpredictable blow to the neck also grew immeasurably because the Horst Dohm ice stadium has recently been extensively renovated and modernized with large amounts of tax money. A new ice processing system was installed, which was intended to significantly reduce the energy costs for ice formation. The loudspeaker system was also replaced and a new LED display wall was purchased, which makes no sense for public ice skating alone. Marco Hübner also points out that ice speedways use methanol and that the FIM classifies the sport as CO2-neutral

In addition to the public, the ESU is now also writing to the governing mayor of Berlin in the hope that he can make a difference. “Unfortunately for God we are forced to turn further because we have been so cornered. We've now reached the point where if we don't get a venue, we'll have to dissolve the club. A club can only exist if money comes in to cover all running costs,” said Marco Hübner again. He also points out that the event, which was always very well attended, represented great added value for Berlin, both in terms of image and financially. International drivers, team members, officials, etc., but above all thousands of spectators stayed overnight, consumed everything possible and generated sales while sightseeing. You don't want all that anymore?

Edited October 27, 2023 by iris123

[Conkers]

It's not as if there is another track in Berlin anymore. The Sport Forum where they staged the Master Of Spikes has long gone, with the building demolished and the track now an all weather Athletics track. Seems a little short sighted by the local Council, as they can't make that much money off the locals just skating.

[iris123]

I do remember this time last year they put out the skating hire shop and I think catering for tender to try and extract more money for that..

I was sceptical this year's meeting would run because one or two ice rinks looked to be in trouble due to the energy problem caused by the war in Ukraine, which was the reason I found the news on the tenders. 

The one thing that does fall a bit flat, is talking about the number of fans it attracts to a City like Berlin. 8,000 over a weekend is a drop in the ocean really. The ice hockey gets more I think for one game. Concerts and theatre etc ..without mentioning football

One other stadium is having trouble in Berlin. Home for ice hockey and speed skating etc

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rbb24.de/sport/beitrag/2023/10/eishalle-erika-hess-stadion-geschlossen-eishockey-eiskunstlauf-fass-berlin.htm/alt=amp.html

Edited October 27, 2023 by iris123

[f-s-p]

On 10/27/2023 at 1:49 PM, iris123 said:

I do remember this time last year they put out the skating hire shop and I think catering for tender to try and extract more money for that..

I was sceptical this year's meeting would run because one or two ice rinks looked to be in trouble due to the energy problem caused by the war in Ukraine, which was the reason I found the news on the tenders. 

The one thing that does fall a bit flat, is talking about the number of fans it attracts to a City like Berlin. 8,000 over a weekend is a drop in the ocean really. The ice hockey gets more I think for one game. Concerts and theatre etc ..without mentioning football

One other stadium is having trouble in Berlin. Home for ice hockey and speed skating etc

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rbb24.de/sport/beitrag/2023/10/eishalle-erika-hess-stadion-geschlossen-eishockey-eiskunstlauf-fass-berlin.htm/alt=amp.html

Pay more, get the deal with the city.

whats the other solution?

 

[iris123]

Seems like the local government have put a stop to using Wilmersdorf.

Using the cost of energy to produce the ice thickness and amount of water needed as their main argument

[iris123]

These are the objective reasons that led to the cancellation and which were also explained in a conversation with the ice speedway union:

Environment/climate:

The event is no longer affordable from an ecological point of view. The district office recognizes that ice speedways use methanol and that the sport is classified as CO2-neutral. However, an ice thickness of 18 centimeters is required for motorcycles to drive on the ice surface. For comparison: For normal use, the ice is only four centimeters thick. In order to achieve the required thickness for the race, the ice must be built up from mid-December. This requires around a million liters more hot water than if the event did not take place. The thicker the ice layer becomes, the more electricity is required (several 100,000 KWh more) to keep it frozen. Not only citizens, but also the administration are currently required to save electricity and water. Otherwise, the system would not use up the additional effort required for two weeks of ice speeding in three months. The event therefore currently does not fit the time

Use of stadium:

The ice surface is used outside of the event by sports clubs and ice skaters who attend the public ice skating rinks. Because of the event, we have to lock out an average of 1,500 ice skaters per day for 14 days. This is met with little understanding given the shortness of the season in which the ice rink can be used.

Work deployment:

The ice rink employees work in a 3-shift system so that the ice can be used for racing during the event. However, the district office can no longer carry out night operations for the heavy ice build-up. The ice stadium's machines are also not suitable for quickly rebuilding ice that has been broken by the motorcycle spikes

.Financial loss:

The event is a financial loss for the district: the income from the event is offset by the expenses for electricity, water, personnel and the loss of income from ticket sales. The income from renting to the ice speedway union does not by any means outweigh the expenses and loss of income for the district office.

https://www.berlin.de/ba-charlottenburg-wilmersdorf/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2023/pressemitteilung.1383341.php