Avangard chooses the local arena between Mytishchi and Krasnoyarsk – News KHL – Hockey

Last Thursday, the president of "the vanguard" Maxim Sushinsky said that the team would start the KHL championship outside of his hometown. The state of emergency of Omsk palaces, whose capacity corresponds to the regulations of the KHL – "Omsk Arena" and the SKK them. Blinov – does not allow to hold matches there. The situation is so deplorable that quick repairs are impossible. Thus, the journey of "hawks" threatens not to last for a month. The club management quickly studied the options, effectively restricting their choice to two palaces. The first – "Arena-Mytischi" in the city of the same name near Moscow. The second is Platinum Arena Krasnoyarsk. Both palaces are fully compliant with KHL regulations. In this case, Omsk considers the possibility of playing in a local arena and exclude the possibility of playing in different cities. The final decision will be announced before August 15th.

According to the "SE", Mytischi with 90% probability will become a temporary residence for the "Vanguard."

The metropolitan area with its developed sports infrastructure and practical logistics is very convenient to found the club with all its services. The Arena-Mytischi itself was built in 2005 with money from the government of the Moscow region and welcomes 7,500 spectators. In the fall of 2005, the "chemist" was based there, moved from Voskresensk, later renamed "Atlant". A couple of years ago, the palace hosted the matches of the 2007 World Hockey Championship. In 2015, the club ceased to exist due to lack of funding . At this moment the arena is used for the matches of the Atlanta Youth League hockey team and the Khimki basketball club

The main issue that the "Vanguard" will have to solve in a very near future is coordinating the schedule. First, several matches in accordance with the schedule of the KHL start simultaneously with the games "Khimki". Secondly, the displacement of Omsk citizens in Moscow creates serious logistical problems for the visiting teams. Take the example of CSKA, which in early October during the week to spend four games away with Salavat, Barys, Avangard and Sibir. After the flight along the road Ufa-Astana the army team will have to return to the region of the capital, and from there fly to Novosibirsk. Since games are played every other day, this calendar looks like a killer. KHL it is necessary to make the appropriate changes, so that the tour series begins with a meeting in Mytishchi. To transfer the Omsk club to the conference of the West the league does not intend, so there is a variant with the transfer of nine home matches of the citizens of Omsk. Omsk

Unlike Arena-Mytischi where everything is ready to accept KHL games even in a few weeks, "Platinum Arena Krasnoyarsk" is a brand new ice palace with 7046 spectators. Employee training, fitness testing, adaptation to regulatory standards of technical nuances – all this will take time. The first home game "Avangard" is scheduled to take place on September 10 with "Neftekhimikom".

"Platinum-Arena" was built specifically for the Universiade-2019. This large-scale event will be held in Krasnoyarsk from 2 to 12 March. From the point of view of logistics and location, Krasnoyarsk seems to be a good choice. The problem with this option is the dates for the Universiade, coinciding with the playoffs KHL. However, in the history of our league there was already a precedent with "Yokerite". "Hartwall-Arena", where "jesters" lead home games, because of the job of mbad cultural events did not have the opportunity to host several games of the Western Conference semifinal in March 2015. In December, the KHL and the club agreed that if the Jokerit reached the semifinals, while having a higher ranking than the Jokerit reached the semifinals, while having a higher ranking than the Jokerit. opponent, then the first two Jokerite encounters would be held away, and the next two – at home. The Finns got at CSKA, which ranked higher in the regular season, so the cunning scheme did not come true.

With all the advantages of Mytischi, representatives of structures providing funding for the "Vanguard" as the option with Krasnoyarsk. The Siberian city is located in a more convenient time zone compared to Omsk. The organization of live broadcasts of matches in the Moscow region is a viable solution. Only now the games can end with the time of Omsk may be closer to midnight. This can exacerbate the already difficult situation and completely divert a lot of fans from the "Vanguard". The club management is obliged to do everything so that no one forgets that the "hawks" remain an Omsk team. In this respect, it is necessary to hold at least one or more matches in Omsk outdoors during the season as part of the Winter Clbadic. Otherwise people will not understand.

However, decisions regarding where the Omsk team will play at home are not yet taken. The listed options are basic, but in addition to them, the citizens of Omsk continue to consider others. Thus, for a long time, there was an option with Kazakhstan, but the main difficulties lie in the fact that this, despite the territorial and mental affinity, is another state. There are no options in Balashikha, and maybe even in Sochi. The final decision will be taken no later than August 15th. We hope that whatever decision is made, Avangard will come out of the most difficult situation with honor.