– It’s completely ridiculous, and I don’t understand the meaning of it. We run entertainment, and we can’t run entertainment if there aren’t people watching, says Alexander Bonsaksen to news. On 12 October, the table is set for the first meeting of the season between arch-rivals Vålerenga and Storhamar. The matches between the teams have a habit of delivering an incredible setting with two of the largest supporter group rings in the country, but this showdown will not be like that. REIGNING CHAMPIONS: Storhamar are Norwegian champions after just beating Vålerenga in the final last season. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB “For no less than NOK 350 you can get a prawn baguette at Gardermoen or a ticket on the concrete at Hamar. The baguette is expensive, but he is far more reasonably priced than these away tickets at Hamar are.” That’s what the Clan wrote in a post on their pages where they call on the Vålerenga supporters to boycott the match. The supporters receive support from the player group. – First of all, I would like to say that it is completely ridiculous that it is possible to raise the prices so much in an away field, says Bonsaksen when he is asked about the boycott the Klan has decided to carry out. Martin Røymark agrees with his teammate and understands the supporters. – I fully support our supporters in that. It’s a shame, but we know we’ve got their back anyway, says the Vålerenga captain. REACTING: Martin Røymark and Alexander Bonsaksen at kickoff before the season were seen starting. Photo: Thomas Fure / NTB Will introduce fixed prices Bonsaksen is back in Vålerenga where he started his career. He thinks it goes beyond many that the Klan stays at home. – I grew up with the rivalry between Vålerenga and Storhamar and have played for full stands myself. If Vålerenga does not provide fans, then it will be a worse overall experience for the Hamar fans as well. The whole product burns, says Bonsaksen. When it became known that the Clan was going to boycott the match, Vålerenga made a statement. It states that the club will help introduce a limit on how much traveling supporters must pay. “Vålerenga will, at the first opportunity, take an initiative above the rest of the club scene in the EHL that ticket prices for the away stand should be fixed for all clubs in all halls.” – I think it would have been a good rule if all the clubs had agreed on it. But then Storhamar can’t set the prices the way they do, it will just be silly, says Bonsaksen. Responding to the criticism Espen Løvås is head of events at Storhamar, and he explains the background for the ticket prices for the coming season as follows: – Storhamar has differentiated ticket prices this year. Some matches cost only NOK 50 and some cost NOK 350. To see Vålerenga or Stavanger Oilers in Hamar this season, you have to shell out NOK 350. Løvås explains that the prices are set according to how attractive the various opponents are. There is no difference between the prices for home and away supporters in the CC amphitheater. – All seats in the hall will be the same price. The way the hall is built, we don’t have the opportunity to differentiate the prices of the different fields in the hall, he says. Løvås adds that the average price of matches in the season is cheaper than it was last season. The average price for a match this year is NOK 210, while last season it was NOK 250, according to the event manager. FULL STANDARD: As of today, there will only be home supporters when Storhamar meets Vålerenga on 12 October. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB But it is not just Storhamar that Alexander Bonsaksen is dissatisfied with. – We have kickoff here now with Norwegian top hockey and they must take responsibility. They must set up some frameworks and rules that apply to the league. That responsibility lies with Norwegian top hockey, elite hockey and the association, says Bonsaksen – Hope they turn around Cato Cocozza is the daily manager of Elitehockey, and he says that the situation is not optimal, but that right now it is up to the club itself. – UNFORTUNATE: In 2022, Cato Cocozza became a daily tenant for Elitehockey. He is a former player and has played for a number of Norwegian clubs, including Vålerenga. Photo: Thomas Fure / NTB – We want to have the largest possible audience at all matches. If prices are too high, this can be the result. It is unfortunate that this happens. The club decides for itself, but I hope we can have a dialogue with each other to find a better solution than this case. Then we get to go through the requests from clubs and see if we can set a ceiling in the future. Alexander Bonsaksen hopes that Storhamar will change the ticket prices. If not, he hopes to avoid seeing visiting fans at the game. – I hope they turn around so we get fans, if not I hope not one Vålerenga fan makes the trip. Published 23/09/2024, at 21.21
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– Completely ridiculous – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
