Final to highlight innovations in broadcast technology and reach new global territories
Zug, Switzerland – The Champions Hockey League (CHL) 2017/18 season reaches its conclusion on Tuesday as Sweden's Växjö Lakers host Finland's JYP Jyväskylä at a sold-out Vida Arena from 18:45 CET for bragging rights as kings of European ice hockey.
As exclusive media and marketing partner of the CHL, Infront will once again be onsite delivering a high-quality finale to the tournament.
New camera angles bringing fans closer to the action
Fans watching from home will be able to catch the best action through a range of innovative camera angles.
Ice rink-board cameras inserted into the side boards will be used for the first time in the tournament, offering a truly unique view of the match from ice rink level.
In addition, viewers will be able to see the game from the head referee's point of view through special helmet cameras. All four officials will also be equipped with microphones which will be used to transmit the audio to TV. Furthermore, in-arena announcements will be made for major decisions directly from the head referees, creating interaction between spectators and the action on the ice.
The suspension camera also returns, with broadcasters able to offer fans a birds-eye view of the action.
Digital-first for a social fanbase
The pre-final press conference took place on Monday and was streamed live on the CHL Facebook page.
In a first for the tournament, one player from each team also battled each other on EA Sports NHL 18, which has featured CHL teams for the first time.
On game day, the game centre on the CHL website will be the main hub for fans all over the world.
Battle of the Fans
In addition, a fan engagement activation – "Battle of the Fans" – has been launched, allowing supporters to get behind their team by using the hashtags #4Vaxjo or #4JYP.
User-generated content will be displayed across the CHL digital channels and live in the arena during the final.
Finally following its huge success last season, the CHL Best Goal voting returns, with OMNIGON's BracketPro voting for their favourite goals of the season.
Growing global broadcast presence
The event is set to be broadcast across 62 territories by 27 broadcasters. This includes China's CCTV, Macau's TDM and Chinese Taipei's ELTA in a first for the tournament.
This year has seen Infront bring coverage to fans across around the world, helping improve the exposure of the Official Presenting Sponsor engelbert strauss as well as the four Official Sponsors – Danfoss, NordicBet, Skoda and Tissot.
32 teams, 13 leagues, 125 games
Two-time Liiga champions JYP Jyväskylä are the second Finnish team to vie for the European Trophy after Kärpät Oulu were CHL runners-up in 2016. Växjö Lakers maintain Sweden's record of having a team in the CHL Final (2015–2017: Frölunda Indians & 2015: Luleå Hockey). Both teams are first time-finalists, which means a new CHL champion will be crowned.
The final is the conclusion of the 125-game schedule of the CHL season, which began on 24 August 2017, with 32 teams from 13 leagues. All of them qualified on sporting merit for the first time in CHL history.
About Champions Hockey League
The league is fully owned and operated by Champions Hockey League AG/Ltd which includes, as its shareholders, the 26 Founding Clubs, six national Founding Leagues and the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Founding National Leagues are: Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. The best teams from the Challenge Leagues (Belarus, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Norway, Poland and Slovakia) are extended Wild Cards. The 2017/18 season includes 32 teams from 13 leagues, comprising a total of 212 national championships between them. The CHL season culminates in a one-game Final showdown to be played on 6 February 2018 at the home venue of the team with the best accumulated Group Stage and Playoff record. A season total of 125 games will have been played by the time the European Trophy is lifted by the champions.
About Infront
Infront, a Wanda Sports company, is a leading sports marketing company managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production, event operation and digital solutions – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football, summer sports and corporate and personal fitness, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with over 180 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of more than 900 experienced staff working from over 35 offices across more than 15 countries, delivering 4,100 event days of top class sport around the world every year. In November 2015, Infront was integrated into Wanda Sports Group, part of the Chinese conglomerate the Dalian Wanda Group.
