A new chapter in Vorarlberg ice hockey begins with the HC Tigers. As part of an extraordinary general meeting and a subsequent joint presentation with members, fans, partners and supporters, the previous EC Bregenzerwald presented its future direction on Friday.
The club is taking a new path – with a clear location in Dornbirn and a long-term vision that goes beyond its own club. For many years, the forests have stood for continuity, passion and exceptional commitment in Vorarlberg ice hockey. These values continue to form the foundation and are now being carried into a new phase of development.
“What our ECB family has achieved in recent years deserves great respect. We are competitive in sport, economically stable and supported by a strong community. With the lack of a home, these things are anything but self-evident,” says chairman Guntram Schedler. “But at the same time it is also clear: the club finally needs a real basis again, which we have been missing since the end of the Alberschwende ice arena.”
After more than a decade in Dornbirn, the conscious decision was made: EC Bregenzerwald no longer just wanted to be a guest there – but wanted to arrive. Structural, organizational and perspective. At an extraordinary general meeting, it was therefore decided to relocate the headquarters to the trade fair city. The club consciously follows a path that international sports organizations have already successfully followed in comparable situations. The EC Bregenzerwald brand will also adapt to the new circumstances. With the aim of retaining as much of the previous external image as possible.
The further development towards the HC Tigers creates a new bracket that connects the past and the future. The tiger remains as a symbol and the club colors do not change. A new logo was designed for this purpose, which contains subtle references to the past and the present. By deliberately leaving out a geographical location in the name, it also sends a signal of openness to ice hockey enthusiasts from all over the country.
With the new location, the club’s opportunities are also changing. As is well known, Dornbirn offers all the conditions needed for sustainable development: a functioning infrastructure, a central location in the Rhine Valley and new opportunities to integrate partners and networks.
“We want to create,” is the clear thrust. In addition to their own history, the Tigers also pursue a larger vision: to continue to make an active contribution to the sustainable progress of ice hockey in Vorarlberg and to provide new impetus for young talent, location development and sporting perspectives. The path taken is intended for the long term. The existing association will gradually be transformed into a reoriented organization and professionalized in key areas.
In the past few weeks, initial discussions have already been held with personalities from business, sport and society. The aim is to build a higher-level network with them in which they can contribute their experience, contacts and perspectives for the future development of the project.
The number of supporters who signaled their willingness to actively support the project at an early stage also shows that the path taken has triggered a positive response. These include long-time companions of the club such as Hans Metzler (Mevo), O&S Bau, and main sponsor Franz Höfle. At the same time, Heinz Huber from the Mohrenbrauerei owner family and tax advisor Mag. Peter Rhomberg were the first personalities from Dornbirn to be won over to the common vision.
Now, after the official presentation, the next phase begins: Additional partners will be brought on board step by step. With this basis, even higher goals come within reach. If we succeed in building a sustainable structure, environment and organization, ice hockey at the highest level appears possible in the medium term.
But in the end it’s about more than just a club. The question is how professional ice hockey can function sustainably in Vorarlberg. The HC Tigers have found an answer for themselves.
