The VIP guests will find all the comforts of home

A half meter of snow has placed a wintry spell on the landscape during the construction of the EisDome where the VIP guests will be royally treated during the Spengler Cup from the 26th to the 31st of December.  Despite the snow accumulation, the 50-strong workforce would not let themselves be discouraged, and applied themselves to building the superstructure using around 360 tons of material shipped to Davos using 16 semi trucks.

During the Spengler Cup, over 7500 prominent people will pass through the EisDome.  More than 60 attendants will be ready to cater to the VIPs every wish.  In the Hospitality Section a buffet with local culinary specialties will be provided twice daily. Over 40,000 utensils, 17,160 plates, and 18,500 glasses will be used.  Beginning Friday, December 12th, the EisDome structure will be complete after approximately 8 days of construction.  The EisDome's ground floor boasts around 2200 square meters worth of space which will be used to accommodate the bar and lounge, while the upper level will contain the Hospitality Area. Beginning Monday, the interior build-out will commence including decorating as well as the final fine-tuning of the lighting and sound systems.  Over 50 workers are working on the EisDome daily.  Including the VIP tent tarpaulin, heating, decoration and furniture, approximately 360 tons of materials have gone into the overall construction, 30 tons of which were used for the catering alone.  The large amount of snow was no obstacle.  "It came, but we conquered!" laughed Sascha Langner, Sales Manager for the Neptunus Tents GmbH.

Marketing Pioneer: Rudolf Killias

The Spengler Cup's marketing has its roots back in 1992.  "Our pioneer was Rudolf 'Killi' Killias," explained Fredi Pargätzi, the Organizational Committee President for the Tournament. Killias acting as sponsoring and marketing head of the Spengler Cup at that time, having spent many years as a successful ice hockey coach was the first to ever put up a VIP tent.  It was here that: "around 200 VIP guests were happy to enjoy the culinary delights on offer outside the hubbub of the stadium for the first time," Pargätzi remembers.  And the VIP area has grown ever since.

Today Sascha Langner is looking forward to the Spengler Cup, "The first day of the Cup will be the most beautiful day, after the delivery of the building to the organizer IMG (Swiss) AG.  It is the day when the routine of the work-flow takes over and the guests not only feel comfortable but are also fascinated by and acknowledge what the IMG team and workers have created over the past 17 days."  He is of course also excited about what will happen on the ice, "I am convinced that HC Davos will succeed in getting revenge and will come away with the Spengler Cup on December 31."

Extended services in the Fan Tent

There will be loads of special activities not only at the EisDome but also the Fan Tent during the Spengler Cup.  Due to its past popularity, the expanded Fan Tent will take up an additional 100 square meters and will contain seating for 750 people and standing room for 500 more guests.  In addition to the extra space, the opening times have been extended.  For the first time, the Fan Tent will be open as early as 11:30 (11:30am) until 1:00 (1am) December 26th through 30th, and will be open from 9:30 (9:30am) to 15:30 (3:30pm) New Year's Eve. Two large screens will broadcast the official Countdown Program including interesting Spengler Cup news, interviews with players and coaches, as well as games from the Spengler Cup.  Additional sports events and music videos will also be displayed on the screens in the Fan Tent.  The lighting and music will serve to create the right mood and atmosphere for the Tent.  A DJ will provide the entertainment before, in between and after the games, and a live band will appear daily to help hype up the guests. Among the bands playing will be Chue Lee, the winner of the Prix Walo in 2006, the legendary Charly's Party Band and Family Tree.  But here too the guests need not go hungry.  There will be culinary choices ranging from Raclette and Fondue to spring rolls and pizza.  In addition, warm and cold drinks will be readily available.

Take part in fun games

On the Fan Mile and the attached Sponsors Village which is accessible to all, a lot is to be discovered at the stands of companies like Würth, Skoda, ProBon Sporttip, Feldschlösschen beer, the "Hot Fondue" stand from Le Gruyère AOC, sport.ch and the International Ice Hocey League which will be providing information about the Ice Hockey World Cup taking place in Switzerland from 24th of April until the 10th of May. The Spengler Cup sponsors and partners offer engaging, interactive, versatile games and activities. The Würth competition, the Feldschlösschen beer Ice Hockey Speed Game, sport.ch, and Sport-Tipp competition all offer attractive prizes.  At the moment, most bets are on either HC Dynamo Moscow or Team Canada, followed closely by HC Davos.

Important Engine for the Spengler Cup

Thanks to the Rhätischen Rail, the friends of the Spengler Cup will enjoy free transportation to and from the Cup.  By providing this special service the Rhätischen Rail underlines the prominence of the Spengler Cup as well as the railway's importance to the Graubünden Region Tourism in general and to the Spengler Cup in particular. "As a co-sponsor for the HC Davos we are proud to make this contribution to the Spengler Cup," Media Spokesperson of the RhB, Peider Härtli happily explained in anticipation of the event.  The Rhätische Rail's contribution to the Spengler Cup first of all means extra work and effort.  It is particularly the staff at the control stations who will be asked to contribute beyond the call of duty. "In the end, however the extra effort made also reflects positively on the employees themselves.  Working as a team they realize how much they can accomplish together.  That is very motivating for everyone," explains Härtli.  By providing special train services that run flexibly according to when the individual games end, the Rhätischen Rail will send its message all the way to Chur and far beyond the Vereina Tunnel.