Bratislava's Slovan wants back into the Czech Extraliga

Bratislava hockey club Slovan is once again pushing for entry into the Czech ice hockey Extraliga. This was confirmed by Extraliga director Martin Loukota, who said a meeting between club and league representatives has already been scheduled.

"We're ready to hear Slovan's proposal. But at this point we can't say the Extraliga is interested in expanding to include a foreign participant," Loukota said. He added that any such decision would also need to be agreed with the Czech Ice Hockey Association, since the agreement between the league and the association clearly sets the number of teams allowed in the championship.

Sporting and commercial appeal

Loukota admitted that adding the famous Slovak club could make sense for the Czech Extraliga both in sporting and economic terms. Among the potential benefits, he pointed to access to an important hockey market, greater appeal for individual matches, new potential among fans and sponsors, and increased media interest.

Slovan is a nine-time Slovak champion, having last won the title in 2022, and also holds a championship crown from the days of federal Czechoslovakia. Over the past decade, the club spent seven seasons playing in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Not the first attempt

Slovan has shown interest in switching to the Czech Extraliga before. In 2011, Czech clubs rejected bids from the Bratislava side and another applicant, Košice. The Extraliga's leadership again considered the possibility of admitting Slovan in 2015.

Should an agreement finally be reached, organisers would face a tricky logistical challenge. "It would be necessary to carefully assess the sporting, economic and logistical consequences, the competition format, the number of participants, and the possible impact on the schedule and on transfers between leagues," Loukota noted.

Fifteen teams and a new map

If Slovan is admitted, the number of Extraliga clubs would rise to fifteen, and to keep an even number of teams, the door could also open for a club from the second-tier league. It remains an open question whether — and how — the rules on transfers between the Extraliga and the second league would change.

The issue of travel costs will also need to be addressed separately. Options being considered include splitting the league into Czech and Moravian-Slovak divisions, or introducing so-called "trips" — combined away tours. Slovan would likely have to compensate Czech rivals for the extra travel expenses. Even if Czech clubs approve Slovan's admission, it is not yet clear from which season the famous Slovak brand would join the championship.

Source: sport.cz