GSHC: The club president defends the Trèfle-Blanc ice rink

ThoseGeneva-Servette Hockey Club –Surprised by the Council of State, the boss of the GSHC defends his Trèfle-Blanc ice rink

“A little worried”, Philippe Baechler believes that the case is now in the hands of politicians.

Posted today at 9:20 am

• The cost of the Trèfle-Blanc project now reaches 293 million francs.
• The future sports enclosure must accommodate 8,500 places.
• The GSHC hopes for an increase in revenues up to 80% compared to Vernets.

I imagine, Monsieur Baechler, that the GSHC is still due to the Trèfle-Blanc ice rink?

Obviously! The work in favor of the new ice rink, started five years ago, continues. If we want to belong to the hockey elite, the GSHC needs modern, suitable, quality infrastructure.

Today, the Vernets skating rink is used by oral derogation from the league because it is dilapidated, which does not prevent us from constantly doing work there, but that cannot last.

You hold your ice rink, but the Council of State, after having announced a two-year postponement of the project in October, said, in mid-April, that it was going to cost 293 million … against 157 million in 2021. You expected such an increase?

I was above all surprised that such a large amount was announced without details. For example, I expected that the expenses are explained.

By inquiring, I learned that the state was not only talking about the ice rink, but also from the external development of the Trèfle-Blanc district and the tram loop.

The skating rink is estimated at 216 million. This corresponds to the price of Lausanne and Zurich skating rinks, even if ours will not have the style box style of the latter.

On March 10, you published on your site a very reassuring message from the Magistrate Thierry Apotho announcing the next deposit of the investment credit, but without a word of the amount … and suddenly, mid-April, PAF …

I was aware that an announcement would be made in mid-April by the government. I was surprised by this communication. For me, she is incomplete.

Since the Council of State has not done so, can you detail the point budget by point?

Absolutely not! At this stage, the only known public document is the result of the 2024 competition selected by a jury in which the members of many parties were located.

Precisely, the parties are worried. The PLR ​​requires a reopening of the competition. Your reaction?

It is normal for the parties to care about the use of public funds. But one cannot constantly postpone the construction of the necessary infrastructure. I met a PLR delegation to insist on this point. I understand that the party wants facts, transparency, but that it supports the project.

I was reassured, because I was still surprised a few days ago to hear certain PLR members say that the GSHC did not pay its rent to the Vernets, given our deficits. This is false on the whole line, since we have no deficit and we pay our rents.

I also heard or that we wanted a skating rink at 10,000 seats, when we defined that 8,500 places are sufficient, the more the 400 of the annex ice rink. You know, I’m a little worried. All that the club can master is controlled, the rest is in the hands of politicians …

The PLR ​​denounces the apparent disability of the State to manage such a project. Right or wrong?

Stop, I don’t do politics! There has been a communication problem, the situation will be clarified by the State Council and the services concerned, with which the GSHC has had excellent contacts from the start. They aim to build the best possible project, to set up the simplest possible operating conditions, which involves a mass of small technical adjustments.

Imagine, the project is built. What is the projected cost of its operation?

We don’t have this figure. We have ideas, we know the cost of exploitation of Vernets. We know that the name of the rink will be important for the branding. Discussions are underway with the department of Mr. Apotheloz.

But you, what do you want to get financially from the project?

We must distinguish the needs of the owner of the premises, the State, and those of the operator, the GSHC. The State has provided for the construction of an adjoining commercial structure, whose income will finance the owner’s operating costs.

As far as we are concerned, we rely on an increase in revenues from 50 to 80% compared to the situation of Vernets, via catering, merchandising, lodges, etc.

Dispute such an enclosure possible?

It is up to the owner, the State, to say what is its concept of exploitation and what profitability it expects from its investment.

Will the site be able to host concerts or other events?

Yes, but the Lausanne or Zurich examples show that it is complicated and probably hardly profitable.

Let’s talk about governance: who will pilot the Trèfle-Blanc? A foundation of the Geneva Stadium Foundation?

It is also a question to ask the owner. There can be a foundation, an association, a management company. What is important is that the GSHC is designated as an operator of the ice rink.