Zurich, Switzerland, 12 January 2015 - The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation (SIHF) has today officially submitted its candidacy documentation for the hosting of the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) headquarters in Zurich. Switzerland is to compete with Zurich (Hallenstadion) as the main venue and Lausanne or Zug as potential second venues for the implementation of the nearly three-week tournament in April/May 2020.
Planned joint venture with Infront
The international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media supports the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation during the candidature phase, building upon their previous successful cooperation for the 2009 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Berne and Kloten. If Switzerland is awarded the competition, the SIHF is to manage the organisation and the national marketing of the tournament in a 50/50 joint venture with Infront. The decision will be made in May 2015 at the IIHF Congress in Prague, Czech Republic.
Marc Furrer, President of SIHF, said: “We are delighted to be entering the candidacy and are confident that we can soon bring the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship to Switzerland. Such an ice hockey festival in our country will further boost our sport. Therefore it is even more important that we can count on Infront for the joint venture.”
Bruno Marty, Executive Director Winter Sports at Infront, added: “We are delighted to support the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation at this early stage already and to jointly lay the foundation for potentially carrying out the event in Switzerland in five years. We will contribute our expertise from many successful consulting assignments and partnerships for past IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships to provide fans, media and sponsors with not only top international sporting events, but also a first-class tournament experience.”
About Infront Sports & Media
Infront Sports & Media is the most respected sports marketing company in the world, 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 and event operation – 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 and summer sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 160 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of 600 experienced staff working from 25 offices across 12 countries, delivering 4,000 event days of top class sport around the world every year.
