The upcoming return of the audience to the handball arenas conjured a smile on Filip Jicha's face: “We actors will get our stage back.” The THW Kiel coach is looking forward to a season in which he will again be mainly in demand as a coach and possibly less than corona officer.
And the fact that the THW's title defense mission will start in front of an impressive crowd makes all professionals and those responsible at the German champions look forward to the 2021/22 season with great anticipation.
“We are regaining a piece of handball normality,” says Jicha.
9,000 fans, all with season tickets, will be able to watch the THW's first Bundesliga match against HBW Balingen on September 8th.
The 2-G rule applies to them - vaccinated and convalescents can enter.
In order to allow access for children under the age of twelve, there will be special zones in the hall in which the offspring can watch handball with one of their parents.
People who cannot or do not want to be vaccinated for medical reasons are also given access to the hall.
In cooperation with a service provider from Munich, the Kiel-based company is starting this highly regarded model experiment, which is supposed to ensure “full huts” - according to THW supervisory board chairman Marc Weinstock, not only in Kiel with handball, but also at other locations in other sports.
"It is an attempt to fill the halls again and at the same time to offer uncomplicated admission with maximum security," said Weinstock on Thursday at the traditional THW season opening press conference in the Ostseebad Damp.
It is clear - and this applies to all clubs - that survival is only possible with "normal" audience income.
"The real returnees are the audience"
The new entrance should be ready to go on October 3rd against GWD Minden. New entry systems (“gates”) are required for him, and these must be added to the well-known entrances to the Ostseehalle. No information was given about the price. Access will then be possible through quick scans via smartphone; What is new about this system, which is already running successfully at airports in Italy, is that the health status is queried in accordance with the requirements of the health department.
The THW sees itself as a pioneer in its role as “filler” of the halls. The sporting goals of the record champions are the well-known. "We want to play for all titles and take part in both final fours," said Weinstock. The Kieler rely on an unchanged squad without access. "I see us stronger than last season, even without newcomers," said Sport Director Viktor Szilagyi. He hopes for a strengthening from another side: "The real returnees are the spectators."
It is an experienced group around goalkeeper Niklas Landin, defense chief Hendrik Pekeler and the directors Sander Sagosen and Domagoj Duvnjak who want to keep SG Flensburg and the rest of the competition in check again. Before his third season as head coach, Jicha does not hide his "favorite title": "My highlight of the past season was that we were able to get the fourth star for this club."
In December 2020, THW won the Champions League title against FC Barcelona in Cologne - mathematically, the postponed final belonged to the 2019/20 season. But it felt like it belonged in the expired one. Jicha said: “We want to go back to Cologne. But the mode is really unfavorable for German clubs. There are teams in Europe that only play for the Champions League. Unfortunately, that doesn't apply to Flensburg and us. "It was a" strange season ", concluded Jicha, who paid respect to his players who remained focused under severe corona conditions and who were rewarded with the championship title in June:" That was a season end for THW romantics. "