The decision by the federal and state governments to only allow ghost games after Christmas because of the Omikron variant is causing frustration for many league leaders and clubs. BBL boss Stefan Holz chose clear words.
Spoke clear words: BBL managing director Stefan Holz.
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The prospect of ghost games has triggered frustration and existential fears in professional sport. “The thought arises that professional sport is a symbol to make the seriousness of the situation clear to the population, and that professional sport has to pay for what it is not to blame,” criticized the managing director of the BBL, Stefan Holz, on Wednesday Decision of the federal and state governments from the previous day.
Accordingly, due to the rapid spread of the Omikron variant of the corona virus, no more spectators will be admitted to all major events – including sports – from December 28th. “From an infectious point of view, nothing speaks against 2G plus with test, FFP2 mask or booster vaccination with test to let a few hundred people into the hall,” said Holz of the dpa.
The almost two years of the Corona crisis have already resulted in significant shortfalls in income for the top clubs in the most important team sports in Germany. With the emergence of the new virus variant, hopes for improvement are over for the time being. Especially in basketball, ice hockey and handball, in which ticket revenues make up a much larger share of the club’s budget than in football, worries grow into desperation.
“That has extreme effects”
“What comes after the next Corona variant? And then it goes on forever? That is not a perspective,” said Holz. According to him, the financial situation for the basketball clubs is “totally difficult, simply critical”. Not every club will survive, he warned. Managing director Nils Mittmann from Bundesliga club Löwen Braunschweig shared this assessment. “That has extreme effects and is life-threatening for everyone except football,” he told the “Braunschweiger Zeitung”.
