Fredi Pargätzi

The organizers of International Davos based Ice Hockey tournament Spengler Cup, HC Davos Management AG, and IMG (Switzerland) AG, licensee of the Spengler Cup marketing rights, have extended their collaboration ahead of time until 2014.

The hitherto very successful collaboration which started in 2007 between the HC Davos Management AG, organizer of the Spengler Cup, the world’s most prominent Ice-Hockey Club League tournament, and IMG (Switzerland) will be extend early by another three years.

This will allow both partners to invest jointly and more aggressively in the future development of the Spengler Cup. «It is an expression of mutual trust and a good basis for the future», says a delighted Fredi Pargätzi, Head of the Spengler Cup’s organizational committee. Armin Meier, Managing Director of IMG (Switzerland) AG has an equally optimistic future outlook: «The long term collaboration guarantees the continuity of the marketing strategy of this legendary tournament».

Six Teams to start in 2010

Along with their mutual commitment to their continued collaboration both partners have declared to be in agreement on making fundamental changes to the tournament’s format and to allow a total of six teams to participate in the 2010 edition. It assumed to be a given that the sixth team will come from within Switzerland. IMG’s Armin Meier, the tournament’s marketer, is particularly delighted by the prospect: «The Spengler Cup needs a second Swiss team to increase the athletic attractiveness of the tournament».

Fredi Pargätzi, too, is positive that the new approach will increase the tournament’s quality even more: «We are convinced that this will attract an even greater number of high profile teams to the Davos tournament. In addition, we expect this to add more excitement to the course of each game and increase the intensity on the ice». The changes will also likely provide for an additional rest day for the teams during the tournament.