We are bringing you the answers of the Executive Director Norbert Koch to fans' questions
Dear fans, we are bringing you the answers from our Executive Director to your questions regarding economy and marketing of the club. The answers are published as they were said, so without any linguistic correction.
- Where can I get the club cap which goes with the golden season ticket?
So far, we have been handing out the caps during home matches, and they should be handed out during the upcoming game Kosice - Bystrica. If you don't manage to take the cap, please, send us an e-mail to: marketing@hckosice.sk. - Hello, the truth is that the operation of the Steel Arena is covered only until the end of October 2019. Is it supposed to be moved after that, or is there going to be some other crisis solution for HC?
The lease contract between HC Kosice and Steel Arena is still valid, and HC Kosice fulfills its obligations under this contract. The matches of the ongoing extra league will be played in the Steel Arena, and we don't have any information which would affect or change this situation. - Is HC Kosice planning any modernisation of the club's logo in the upcoming period? Many clubs in the Tipsport League changed their logo. HC Kosice did not: Why?
We think of a logo re-branding as a complex process which is not related "only" to the change of logo graphic. We intensively work in the club on strategic projects and changes which will improve the club economically and from the perspective of sport too. We are trying to give a community access to the club, and currently we are working on its structures and functioning. At the same time, the re-branding itself is not cheap, and we want to approach this matter when we are ready for it in all aspects. - How does HC Kosice plan to improve the conditions in sector B12 in Steel Arena for disabled fans, or how does it plan to improve the access to information on the club's website, facebook, twitter, instagram, mobile application and information board for deaf and blind fans of HC Kosice. Does it plan some events for disabled children and pensioners? So that HC Kosice would become a modern European club also in this area.
Technical equipment of sectors is in the competence of the Steel Arena itself. Please, send the suggestions of potential improvements to the address: sekretariat@hckosice.sk, and I will personally interpret the information to the management of the Steel Arena. Regarding the communicational channels, right now, we are not able to ensure the functionality you are talking about. Our marketing team is composed of club employees and volunteers who are doing the best they can to cover the current scope of work and activities. If there is some volunteer among our fans who would like to help us in this area, we would really appreciate and accept his/her help. We are very sensitive to groups of pensioners, disabled people or disadvantaged children. The pensioners in retirement homes have the possibility to go to every home game of the regular season for free. Within the external events, we supported multiple special schools, and foster homes have also the tickets for the game for free. We plan to work on and develop these activities even more. - Does HC Kosice plan to play the Champions Hockey League in the nearest future? Or maybe some other international competition such as Continental Cup, “Vyšehradský pohár” etc.?
The Champions Hockey League is a specific project, and to play in this League the team must succeed in the national league in the first place. If we manage to complete this condition in the nearest future, we will not refuse to participate in this League. Regarding other Cups, there are more possibilities, but right now, I think it's too early to talk about it. - Do you plan the book-signing of our hockey players?
We surely do, we are thinking of several days, on which we will inform you in time. It is one of the events that we plan to make for you, HC Kosice fans. - I wanted to ask about the transport tickets on a game day (2 hours free travelling before and after the game). This was one of the main reasons why I brought the golden ticket, and in the end, you omitted this benefit. Why didn't you inform us on this prior to the sale of tickets? Or is it still in the process? I think that many people counted on this. And I think, that there is no adequate substitution for that.
These matters are still at the negotiation stage with DPMK and the Municipality. HC Kosice has every interest in keeping this benefit, and the Municipality promised to support us during the resolution of this problem. During pre-season communication, this benefit was not included in the marketing communication as the cooperation hadn't been confirmed. I strongly believe, that we will manage to solve this matter as soon as possible. We are doing everything we can, right now it's the Municipality's turn. HC Kosice has done here its maximum. - Another question is related to the snack bars. I understand that prices rise as it occurs everywhere, but why there is no improvement in the quality of services? Is it normal to stand 15- 20 minutes in line? The sellers try to save money on the personnel, but for these prices we would deserve services of higher quality. Thank you for your respond.
Operation of snack bars and all related services including attendants is not in the hands of the club. Snack bars are operated by the private company which has a valid contract with the Steel Arena. HC Kosice regularly communicates with the operator of snack bars, and we are trying to interpret all requests of our fans and reach a consensus. We realize that the snack bars represent an important product that club offers, so we have every interest in solving this situation and improve the quality of services during games. - Hello, firstly I would like to praise the club for its marketing, which is finally really good in Kosice, and I hope that you will not ease up and will keep up the good work. My first question is, in what state are the negotiations with DPMK right now? Will the transport to the hockey and from the hockey be free if I bought a golden season ticket? We have a new mayor who, prior to the elections, promised almost a paradise on earth for people from Kosice (so far, it's the opposite). If I am not mistaken, the Municipality doesn't fund the club at all, hockey is the only sport in Kosice which is played at the professional level, so the Municipality could help at least a little bit here, and let's be honest, there are not so many of us having the golden season ticket.
Question and answer are in the point No. 7. - If it is not a secret, how many season tickets have been sold this season, and how many of them were the gold ones?
We do not publish this data, but I can tell you, that we sold more than last year, and that most of them are gold. - I understand that the snack bars are not under your competence, but as me as a stable visitor, and from what I can hear around, it is a tragedy. The service is slow and unprepared, stocks are insufficient even at those games such as the one against Slovan, where you knew 2 weeks ahead that it is going to be sold out. And during the second break you were out of beer? Do you think it's normal? Why at least the sausages are not sold in the upper snack bar above sector A13? And don't let the administrator tell you, that there wouldn't be any interest to buy it. Do you know how many unsatisfied customers there are? The prices rise every season, but the services have not improved at all. I would say that they even get worse. Why don't we go for plastic that can be re-used/recycled? … what about creating a high quality club cups with the logo of the club on it and pay an advance for it. Even if it was for 2 euros per glass, you would earn on it because many people would just keep it to themselves, and your production costs would be substantially lower, there wouldn't be so much waste, and you would make many people happy....The prices went up, and we didn't feel it in any positive way...
Question and answer are in the point No. 8. - Do you have some plan B, if USS closes its financial flow completely? It needs to be beard in mind that we have even a few/a lot (I cannot tell this) sponsors only thanks to the USS, and without this company, they probably won't stay...Isn't this going to destroy our club in the future, at the current expenses that we have, including surely expensive Steel Arena?
As we have already mentioned earlier in the communication within the Community Forum, the club is aware of the risk resulting from the current situation in the steel industry and does take the necessary steps towards diversification of partners. We are negotiating with several bigger and smaller partners, to which we are also adapting the portfolio of our marketing products. At the same time, by open communication, activities towards the community and by virtuous attitude, we want to make hockey attractive for as many people as we can. We are doing the best we can in the club to create the best conditions possible for all our players. In order to fulfill our ambitious plans with the youth, we will need a higher contribution which we will try to obtain through different fundraising activities, such as the Wall of Patriots. We all must realize that functioning of the club is dependent on the fans' support. HC Kosice is currently transforming itself into the community club, and I believe that together we will overcome all current and upcoming challenges. - Hello Mr. Koch, I would like to know what are your visions in the marketing area, what thing realized let's say in 3 years would you consider a success? What do you personally want to set and improve in HC? Is there anything you want to point out that can be done differently? I would also like to know your opinion on the matter whether is it real to strengthen the club economically in such a way, that it would be able to work at least at the current level even if U.S Steel substantially restricted its contribution. Is the club ready for this?
Right now, the club is facing all the above-mentioned difficulties, and it is also thinking of possible solutions. First of all, it is necessary to correct the information that the club is safe for the near future, and it should be noted that we are not worried about its functioning. It is the exact opposite. We are planning to transfer into the community club, which will be transparent and open towards its partners and of course to the U.S. Steel. It is logical that we are trying to secure the club and prepare for different scenarios. That is the reason we are reaching towards different partners. Success can be formulated in different ways, but the basis is the satisfaction of fans, sportsmen, implementing and executive employees with the performed job. We have a great chance to be the first club carrying the name of Hockey Academy. If the stands are full, it means success, it brings emotions, economy, joy and satisfaction from what we do. I also want to say that thanks to our employees and volunteers, most of the process work at high level. Club has a set strategy, digital vision and by conceptual work it moves forward to meet it. I would be grateful, if we could reach all our goals and equip the club with modern digital tools, and to develop it in the way that other successful clubs do. We are doing everything we can in the club to develop HC Kosice and move towards better economic situation and sport performance, and I hope that our efforts can be felt since the season started. - Hello Mr. Koch. Do you think about implementing continuous lighting as it was during the Ice Hockey World Championships? Goal, effects on ice rink... it is an amazing thing.
I agree, the mentioned effects are very attractive but at the same time, they require a substantial investment. Lighting and sound distribution are on the list of the things we want to improve, but we need financial resources for their implementation. - Hello Mr. Koch. I would like to ask how it is with the financial resources of the club. Do we have enough finances for the whole season? Do you approach new sponsors and partners? Are you thinking about any new big sponsors, or is it already in the process of solving? Thank you for your respond.
Question and answer are in the point No. 12. - I would like to ask, whether the transport ticket is going to be for free before and after the match? On the website it says that it is still in the process of negotiation. Is it true, or you just forgot to inform the fans?
Question and answer are in the point No. 7. - Hello Mr. Koch, I would like to ask what is the economic situation of the club? It is publicly known that the general partner of the club, U.S. Steel, is currently facing difficulties, and probably each fan of Kosice would like to know, whether we should worry about the future of the club in case U.S. Steel stops sponsoring the club.
Question and answer are in the point No. 12. - How do you feel about the progress of your son, Patrik? He started at a position of a bench player, and in three years he has become the pillar of a defense. Thank you for your respond and I wish you good luck.
Thank you very much for this question. As a father of a hockey player who is constantly making progress, I am of course happy when I know that he still has a lot to learn. I am happy that one of the visions of HC Kosice is to give more and more opportunities to these young players, which we are currently working on. - I want to ask, whether there is going to be any cheering material handed in for the game. Is it possible to sell more tickets for the less attractive games, so that there would be more people in the stadium?
We will use the promotional materials for cheering, more specifically the clapping tools, in the selected games. Their manufacturing requires not a small amount of expenses, so the frequency of their use is determined by the interest of the partners who may use the clapping tools for the propagation of their own products and services. For each game, there is an allocated number of tickets for different kind of competitions. By free entrance we also support elementary schools and pensioners within one sector. We are preparing the game for elementary schools, high schools, universities etc. However, I am not a fan of excessive giving of tickets. I take purchase of a ticket as a form of support of the club's fans. And right now, we need this support from fans. - Was the coverage of fans' cars some kind of mutual agreement? I think that it is a right way of showing the others that Kosice live for the hockey. It is a quite good advertisement not only for the club, but also for the fans. I would like to thank you in advance for reading the question and responding to it. Good luck in the future, only VSŽ ??
Thank you for the idea. Please, send email with the details of your idea tosekretariat@hckosice.sk . Consequently, we will discuss this idea with my collegues during the meeting with the Marketing Board. - I want to ask, what is your opinion on the work of Rastislav Rusic, and in what aspects you want to be different.... is your position even important in Slovakia? Could you do this job while having another one? Because I see the withdrawal of Mr. Rusic from his function due to the reason, that there is nothing else to create, and not everyone can get bored in a job....
I am not going to comment on someone's job, if he does not work in the club anymore. I want to look into the future, and I think that it's not just my credo, but the credo of all people who are currently working in our team. Doing this job part time would mean to substantially limit its contribution in favor of the club. I would say, the situation is the opposite. There is a great extent of work and duties put on the small number of employees, and that applies for each position in our organization. - Why do the matches during the week start so early at 5:30PM? Kosice is the second biggest city in Slovakia, many people can't make it to the match from work, as far as I know. It would be better, if matches started at least at 6:00PM. More people, more money, or am I wrong? Thank you.
The beginning of matches at 5:30Pm was set based on the feedback from fans who attend the matches with their kids of school age. We monitor and evaluated the visit rate of matches. - Hello. I would like to know, whether it would be a good and right move mainly from the ecological perspective to create glasses for beer and kofola on which there would be logo of HC Kosice on one side, and photos of the players on the other one. Like the ones created for the Ice Hockey World Championship this year. Such glasses were created also for the fans of Nitra, and I think it would also make the faithful and long-term fans of HC Košice happy, but mainly myself. Thank you in advance for your respond.
Thank you for the idea and inspiration. We actively consider the use of the described glasses. - Why don't you post the videos and highlights from the matches on your website anymore? One is not able to watch it later, if he couldn't attend the game. In todays IT world, I think it's shocking and incomprehensible.
You will find the highlights in each game report. They are added a little bit later depending on their publication on the website of Tipsport Liga https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVQZpAqG8JRdUJS4ELRvgiw. - Why cannot the matches start at 7:00Pm... since we are at work until 18:00PM.
Question and answer are in the point No. 22. - Hello, does the club plan to return to the old orange-black colors? When is it going to happen?
As we have told already, HC Kosice transforms itself into the community club. Of course, we know that part of the fans would really like and appreciate to return to the original colors. If this step should be the part of our transformation into the community club, we are not going to say no to this. However, we need to feel the support from community not only in good times, but also in the bad ones.
