EHF Men’s Champions League Throws- Off
Vienna, 26.09.2007 – Yesterday, 26th September 2007 saw the first throw-off of the 2007/2008 EHF Men’s Champions League Group Matches. Wednesday evening belonged to Spain, with two top matches on home soil. All eyes will then focus on the north of Germany for two matches, with the first round coming to an end on Sunday 30th September.*
The 2007/2008 EHF Men’s Champions League Season will throw-off where last season left off, with even more dynamic, fast, top-level matches. Last season, the EHF Men’s Champions League saw European elite club handball entering a new dimension, and Tor Lian (EHF President) promises to keep the ball rolling, “Last season the EHF Champions League product reached new heights, with record media coverage and a new clean and fresh event identity, establishing itself well on the sporting market. The EHF and EHF Marketing GmbH are striving to take this development a step forward this season with new, innovative event elements and even greater TV and media coverage.”
Playing System
The EHF Champions League is and always has been the elite competition of club handball – 32 teams from 21 countries will enter the group match phase this weekend. This season will see a slightly different playing system with two group phases; the “group matches” and “the main round”, which guarantee more matches of the top teams and satisfies the market demand for EHF Champions League Handball. The fight for the coveted title will be tight right up to the end of the season on 10/11th May 2008. This season, players from 36 different countries will have their hopes set on the title and a successful season on the European club circuit.
New Event Elements
The EHF Champions League will enter the season with revised Event Regulations, with strong focus on the CL branding concept and event identity. The event identity which was launched on the market for last season has been further reinforced with new elements.
EHF Champions League Flooring System
An EHF Champions League “blue and lagoon” flooring system supplied by longstanding partner Gerflor will be seen universally as of the group matches, adding to the attractiveness of the product both for the viewer at home and the fan in the arena.
EHF Champions League Anthem “Hymn of the Champions”
The EHF has invested resources over the summer months to strengthen the musical show element of the EHF Champions League event. The anthem, played by the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, comes under the title of “Hymn of the Champions” and will be played in all arenas and on TV. The anthem can be heard at ehfCL.com and will be played for the first time tonight at 20:30 for the line-up of the match in Leon (ESP).
New Event Procedures
As of the group phase there will also be a new line-up procedure prior to the match, with the integration of the official anthem. Following the success of the introduction of EHF Marketing Supervisors last season, this system has been expanded further – the pool of marketing experts has been expanded to 41. As EHF Marketing Director, Peter Vargo confirmed, “we have been working hard to strengthen the brand “EHF Champions League” and by nominating specially selected external marketing experts to oversee each Champions League match, we can work onsite with the clubs and marketing partners to reach the high-standard results we are seeking.”
TV and Media Coverage
The quality of the TV images sent around the world will reach even higher standards this coming season. The EHF is working with highly-respected TV networks and producers to achieve this goal. A Host Broadcaster Manual has been especially amended in line with this objective and the development of the product. More top matches than ever before will be broadcast. EHF Marketing GmbH has, to date, TV partners in 27 countries.
Eurosport Coverage
Eurosport will further its coverage on Eurosport Germany and Eurosport 2, which will also include an EHF Champions League Magazine. The first edition of the Magazine will be shown on Thursday 27th September at 17:30 on Eurosport Germany. Tor Lian, sees this as “another major step for Champions League handball!”
Other major TV partners
A new agreement has also been made with VIASAT for extensive CL coverage in Hungary and Slovenia. The Danish market will be covered by DR and TV2.
Partners
Alongside the TV partners, sport marketing company SPORTFIVE will market all the matches as of the main round. There is a 6 partner package, the EHF has agreed with SPORTFIVE to take back one package to deal with the clubs in order to satisfy the interests of the main sponsors of the individual clubs.
ehfCL.com
The official EHF Champions League website is the first port of call for all information. The service has been newly designed for this season and will be launched for the first match of the season. The site has been redeveloped to optimise navigation, with additional breadcrumb navigation. New features will include video highlights, club information, further player information, reports, interviews and features. The ehfCL web team works with correspondents from around Europe to ensure that news is delivered daily, when and where it happens.
Following the success of the ehfCL.com QUIZ last season, this will be continued once again powered by adidas, with top prizes on offer. Users can also sign-up for EHF Champions League Newsletter, which will be sent weekly directly to your e-mail account. The address for your bookmark is http://www.ehfcl.com/
* Wednesday 26th September: 20:30 in Pamplona (Portland San Antonio - ESP vs GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme – DEN) and half-an-hour later in Leon (C. BM. Ademar Leon – ESP vs HC Croatia Osigurnaje-Zagreb – CRO). On Thursday 27th September: 18:30, HSV Hamburg (GER) vs Viborg HK A/S (DEN), followed by SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs BM Ciudad Real (ESP) at 20:15. For all other match details, please click on the link in the attached e-mail.
Contact:
Peter Vargo
EHF Marketing GmbH
Director
Tel: +43-1-801-51 215
e-mail: vargo@ehfmarketing.com
Siân Rowland
European Handball Federation
Corporate Communications Manager
Tel: +43-1-801-51 161
e-mail: rowland@eurohandball.com
The 2007/2008 EHF Men’s Champions League Season will throw-off where last season left off, with even more dynamic, fast, top-level matches. Last season, the EHF Men’s Champions League saw European elite club handball entering a new dimension, and Tor Lian (EHF President) promises to keep the ball rolling, “Last season the EHF Champions League product reached new heights, with record media coverage and a new clean and fresh event identity, establishing itself well on the sporting market. The EHF and EHF Marketing GmbH are striving to take this development a step forward this season with new, innovative event elements and even greater TV and media coverage.”
Playing System
The EHF Champions League is and always has been the elite competition of club handball – 32 teams from 21 countries will enter the group match phase this weekend. This season will see a slightly different playing system with two group phases; the “group matches” and “the main round”, which guarantee more matches of the top teams and satisfies the market demand for EHF Champions League Handball. The fight for the coveted title will be tight right up to the end of the season on 10/11th May 2008. This season, players from 36 different countries will have their hopes set on the title and a successful season on the European club circuit.
New Event Elements
The EHF Champions League will enter the season with revised Event Regulations, with strong focus on the CL branding concept and event identity. The event identity which was launched on the market for last season has been further reinforced with new elements.
EHF Champions League Flooring System
An EHF Champions League “blue and lagoon” flooring system supplied by longstanding partner Gerflor will be seen universally as of the group matches, adding to the attractiveness of the product both for the viewer at home and the fan in the arena.
EHF Champions League Anthem “Hymn of the Champions”
The EHF has invested resources over the summer months to strengthen the musical show element of the EHF Champions League event. The anthem, played by the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, comes under the title of “Hymn of the Champions” and will be played in all arenas and on TV. The anthem can be heard at ehfCL.com and will be played for the first time tonight at 20:30 for the line-up of the match in Leon (ESP).
New Event Procedures
As of the group phase there will also be a new line-up procedure prior to the match, with the integration of the official anthem. Following the success of the introduction of EHF Marketing Supervisors last season, this system has been expanded further – the pool of marketing experts has been expanded to 41. As EHF Marketing Director, Peter Vargo confirmed, “we have been working hard to strengthen the brand “EHF Champions League” and by nominating specially selected external marketing experts to oversee each Champions League match, we can work onsite with the clubs and marketing partners to reach the high-standard results we are seeking.”
TV and Media Coverage
The quality of the TV images sent around the world will reach even higher standards this coming season. The EHF is working with highly-respected TV networks and producers to achieve this goal. A Host Broadcaster Manual has been especially amended in line with this objective and the development of the product. More top matches than ever before will be broadcast. EHF Marketing GmbH has, to date, TV partners in 27 countries.
Eurosport Coverage
Eurosport will further its coverage on Eurosport Germany and Eurosport 2, which will also include an EHF Champions League Magazine. The first edition of the Magazine will be shown on Thursday 27th September at 17:30 on Eurosport Germany. Tor Lian, sees this as “another major step for Champions League handball!”
Other major TV partners
A new agreement has also been made with VIASAT for extensive CL coverage in Hungary and Slovenia. The Danish market will be covered by DR and TV2.
Partners
Alongside the TV partners, sport marketing company SPORTFIVE will market all the matches as of the main round. There is a 6 partner package, the EHF has agreed with SPORTFIVE to take back one package to deal with the clubs in order to satisfy the interests of the main sponsors of the individual clubs.
ehfCL.com
The official EHF Champions League website is the first port of call for all information. The service has been newly designed for this season and will be launched for the first match of the season. The site has been redeveloped to optimise navigation, with additional breadcrumb navigation. New features will include video highlights, club information, further player information, reports, interviews and features. The ehfCL web team works with correspondents from around Europe to ensure that news is delivered daily, when and where it happens.
Following the success of the ehfCL.com QUIZ last season, this will be continued once again powered by adidas, with top prizes on offer. Users can also sign-up for EHF Champions League Newsletter, which will be sent weekly directly to your e-mail account. The address for your bookmark is http://www.ehfcl.com/
* Wednesday 26th September: 20:30 in Pamplona (Portland San Antonio - ESP vs GOG Svendborg TGI Gudme – DEN) and half-an-hour later in Leon (C. BM. Ademar Leon – ESP vs HC Croatia Osigurnaje-Zagreb – CRO). On Thursday 27th September: 18:30, HSV Hamburg (GER) vs Viborg HK A/S (DEN), followed by SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs BM Ciudad Real (ESP) at 20:15. For all other match details, please click on the link in the attached e-mail.
Contact:
Peter Vargo
EHF Marketing GmbH
Director
Tel: +43-1-801-51 215
e-mail: vargo@ehfmarketing.com
Siân Rowland
European Handball Federation
Corporate Communications Manager
Tel: +43-1-801-51 161
e-mail: rowland@eurohandball.com