– Does the LHC have the best audience in Switzerland?
After a historic final lost against the ZSC Lions during which we saw a Vaudoise arena on fire, can the Lausanne Hockey Club claim to have the best audience in the country?
Published today at 1:59 p.m.
All united under the same colors, the LHC supporters were white-hot during the end of season match. (KEYSTONE/Salvatore Di Nolfi)
KEYSTONE
Clément Bonard: Yes, the LHC has the best audience in Switzerland, and has for a long time
In the tumult and fervor of this end of the season, one truth emerges clearly: the LHC reigns supreme on the stands of the National League. Since 1938 at the Montchoisi ice rink, the club has been the home of unwavering passion, finding its peak in the cauldron of the old Malley ice rink.
Despite the change towards the modernity of the Vaudoise arena in 2017, the brilliance of the fervent support of Lausanne supporters has not weakened. The recent final against the Zurich Lions is eloquent proof of this: the walls shook there.
The major events on the calendar always attract remarkable attendance, with packed stands. Last season was the scene of memorable matches in the regular season, notably against Fribourg-Gottéron and Genève-Servette, where each clamor seemed to carry the team to victory.
During Game 6 of the final, we could see the entire ice rink standing from the middle of the second third, which clearly illustrates the unwavering commitment of the Lausanne public. Even during match 7 at the Swiss Life Arena, the voice of the modest (in number) kop of LHC supporters dominated that of the 12,000 Zurich residents.
These manifestations of passion and loyalty are rare, how many clubs in Switzerland can boast of filling their ice rink like was this the case on Tuesday to watch a match on a giant screen? Thus, the Lausanne Hockey Club undeniably asserts itself as the bastion of the best public in Switzerlanda truth that even sporting results cannot dispute.
On the left, Clément Bonard and, on the right, Ugo Imsand-Curty.
Ugo Imsand-Curty: No, this final is a sham
Someone had to be the spoilsport, the killjoy. Not an easy role to assume a few days after a historic final, lost at the end of the suspense by the LHC. In a popular jubilation that would give shivers that even the defeat on the 7the match was not enough to ruin. A “not so happy end” greeted by a superb ovation from the Vaudoise arena, packed to the brim on Tuesday while the meeting took place 220 km away.
But this epic final, preceded by a controlled semi-final against Fribourg-Gottéron, is a sham. Lausanne fever has subsided since the destruction of Malley. The comfortable setting that took its place in Prilly has since too often resonated like a sealed living room, sometimes half empty. VIPs sipping glasses of champagne in one of the side stands.
Even if it pains me to say it, it’s Gottéron who has the best audience in the country. The city of Friborg breathes at the same pace as its Dragons. The BCF Arena posted a record occupancy rate of 99% (more than 200,000 spectators). It is no longer even possible to register on the waiting list to obtain one of the 7,500 season tickets. The Dzodzets are the members of Swiss hockey. They no longer need the results to be up to par.
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