The Graz 99ers’ final opponent is HC Pustertal – and behind the South Tyroleans’ success is a president, Erich Falkensteiner, who consciously built the club as a sustainable project and has a clear philosophy.
“Ice hockey and entrepreneurship have a lot in common”
Falkensteiner sees many parallels between sport and business. For him, the main focus is on dynamism, emotions and the ability to get back up immediately after setbacks. It was precisely these qualities that motivated him to become intensively involved in ice hockey.
Success model without an individual
Falkensteiner describes HC Pustertal’s rise from outsider to finalist as a clear team effort. Entry into the ICE Hockey League and the development of the infrastructure were crucial.
Particularly important: The club should remain economically stable. Falkensteiner emphasizes that a club should not be dependent on a single person – not even financially. What is needed is a broad basis and clear goals. “What happens when this person is no longer there? It was always clear to me that a president should never put his own money into it. And I never did that either,” Falkensteiner told the “Kleine Zeitung”.
More than just sport: “Place to be” in Brunico
In addition to sporting success, Pustertal pursues a clear mission: the stadium in Brunico should be a meeting place for everyone. A focus is on youth work and a broad fan base – including a noticeably high proportion of women in the audience. With initiatives such as its own academy and a strong business network, the club was consciously positioned as an overall regional project.
Outsider role in the final
According to Falkensteiner, reaching the final doesn’t come as a complete surprise, but it isn’t a given either. After strong phases and more difficult months, the team stabilized in time for the start of the play-offs. The president still sees the Graz 99ers as the favorites in the final – due, among other things, to their financial possibilities and squad structure.
“Giving up is not an option”
Despite defeat in game one, Falkensteiner remains optimistic. For him, taking part in the final of an international league is a great success for the club and the entire region. The route for the rest of the series is clear: Pustertal wants to continue investing everything – in keeping with the president’s motto: giving up is out of the question.
Image: Foppa Iwan – HC Pustertal
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