“Challenging Times”
Despite this high-flying sport, Niners managing director Steffen Herhold has worries written on his face. “These are challenging times,” said the 43-year-old on Monday (November 21, 2021) in the “SpiO breakfast”. Economical and also sporty.
Top player Weidemann has been missing for a long time
In sporting terms, the Niners are hurt by the loss of top player Nelson Weidemann, who with a broken arm will not be available until the end of January and thus for about twelve games. “Our relatively short rotation will be even shorter. That is a big challenge.”
Lack of viewers “financially tough blow”
Economically, the Saxon club is threatened with major losses in the coming weeks due to the Corona Emergency Ordinance in Saxony, which came into force on Monday. From now on, spectators are no longer allowed to come to Chemnitz’s home games. “Financially, that’s a tough blow. Viewers’ income make up 25 to 30 percent of the total budget for and.” With a total budget of around 3.8 million euros, according to Herhold, these are enormous sums that the club is missing.
“Pile of broken glass in early summer”
And the 60 percent from sponsorship income could also be affected. “The sponsor not only wants to see his brand on television, he also wants to present himself to the audience”, says the business graduate and explains: “I dread sitting down with sponsors in March. Then they will ask how it will be next winter . And then I’ll tell you for the third time in a row that everything will be great … “, Herhold explains with sarcasm in his voice. The fear of the native of Chemnitz, who has been the full-time managing director of the Niners since 2016: “We will be in front of a pile of broken glass in early summer.”
“Knew the situation in the hospitals”
Nevertheless, Herhold understands the decision made by politicians. “We are in constant contact, we knew about the situation in Saxony, we knew the situation in the hospitals. It became apparent.” When the decision to ban the audience came, he was still shocked: “Then came the mental meltdown.” And yet he is also grateful, because “Thank God we as a society will not bring ourselves to say that we sacrifice the health of the citizens for sport, culture or art.”
“Maximum effort to close vaccination gaps”
With a view to the around 300,000 people over 60 years of age who have not yet been vaccinated against the corona virus in Saxony alone, the Niners managing director also sees the sports clubs as having an obligation. “Maximum effort is required to close the vaccination gap. Otherwise there will be no light at the end of the tunnel.”
The clubs from RB Leipzig, Dynamo Dresden, Erzgebirge Aue, FSV Zwickau to the handball players of the SC DHfK Leipzig and the Saxon ice hockey second division or BBL Club Chemnitz now have a special responsibility: “If if you put all the clubs and fans together, we’re almost at 100 percent, “says Herhold with a smile and adds seriously:” We’re ready. We have medical staff, we have the infrastructure. But we can’t do it alone, we need it the administration and the executive. ”
“Will not envy anyone”
Financial support, as with the last spectator exclusion a year ago, has not yet been promised to the clubs. Despite all worries, Herhold looks with pleasure at the other BBL clubs, which are still allowed to let spectators into the halls. “Every day I keep my fingers crossed for all the other clubs in all other federal states that they can continue.” Because: “We need the light, keep it up. We play the ghost games and we won’t envy anyone that there are 5,000 people in Oldenburg, for example.”
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