2023-10-27 04:53:00
HC Ajoie and HC Bienne are not just engaged in a sporting duel. The two National League clubs meet this Friday evening in Zealand for the 2nd derby of the winter (live on RFJ from 7:30 p.m.). Christian Wohlwend’s protégés will want to confirm the victory won in Porrentruy on September 22. Especially since it is a duel at the bottom of the ranking between two teams which have only achieved one success in the last 10 matches. Off the ice, competition also rages between HCA and HCB. “It is very healthy,” emphasizes the commercial director of “rouge et jaune”. Separated by 70 km, the two clubs share a largely common regional hunting ground to attract sponsors. “The arrival of HC Ajoie in the National League slowed down our geographical expansion phase a little, especially the first season. But we continue to have quite a few Jurassians following us in the stands,” recognizes Sébastien Meyer. Now, for the 3rd winter of cohabitation, “business has resumed. We still have a little more than thirty Jura companies supporting HC Bienne,” reveals the thirty-year-old, while not hiding that “it’s a little more complicated to canvass in the Jura.”
Bilingualism as a major argument
The resident of the Tissot Arena takes full advantage of his geographical location. The A16 motorway but above all the bilingualism of the Zealand city are valuable arguments for the finalist of the last play-offs. “HC Bienne is the National League club which offers the greatest media reach. They talk about us in French-speaking Switzerland, they talk about us in German-speaking Switzerland and we offer great visibility,” explains Sébastien Meyer. If competition rages between the people of Zealand and the Jura, it is taken very positively by the commercial director of HCB. “It is in the interest of both clubs to be in the same league. It adds a derby, we talk about ice hockey, people are passionate about hockey,” he says. A passion that will certainly be felt this Friday evening at the Tissot Arena. The 2nd derby of the winter will be sold out. /msc
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