Euro Hockey League is delighted to announce that Amsterdam H&BC’s world famous Wagener Stadium in The Netherlands will be the venue for the Semi Finals and Finals of the 2009/2010 season.
The Wagener Stadium has played host to some of the biggest international events in hockey, including the 1973 Hockey World Cup, the EuroHockey Nations Championship in 1983 & 2009 as well as numerous FIH Champions Trophy events. The arrival of EHL Final Four will mark yet another landmark event at the venue, with a sell-out crowd expected to watch the action.
It will be the first time that the finals tournament has been played away from the stunning surroundings at H.C. Rotterdam, who were magnificent hosts of the four day KO16 event that took place over Easter.
The final phase of the competition features the four remaining teams battling for the Euro Hockey League crown, with RC de Polo de Barcelona (ESP), UHC Hamburg (GER), H.C. Rotterdam (NED) and host club Amsterdam H&BC all in action. This year’s EHL Final Four tournament will be slightly different to previous years as it will also feature the Semi Finals and Final of the Women’s EuroHockey Club Champions Cup, with Atasport (AZE), UHC Hamburg (GER), Amsterdam H&BC (NED) and HC’s Hertogenbosch (NED) all competing for the title. The combined event will be played over three days instead of two, giving hockey fans even more value for money as there will be an extra match per day. The Final Four will be played over the Whitsun weekend from Friday 21st until Sunday 23rd May 2010.
“With two Dutch clubs reaching the Semi Finals the choice to stay in the Netherlands for the Final Four was obvious”, said Jan Verboom, Operational Manager of the Euro Hockey League. “Following the Round 1 event that took place at the club in the 2008/2009 Season, we are very much looking forward to organizing EHL Final Four at Amsterdam H&BC. As a pilot we now integrate the Women’s Champions Cup with the EHL Final Four, ensuring that there will be even more exciting and attractive hockey at the tournament.”
Founded in 1892, Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club is the oldest hockey club in The Netherlands. After a period which saw various relocations, the club finally settled in the ‘Amsterdamse Bos’ around the Wagener Stadium in 1938.
Euro Hockey League is greatly looking forward to what is sure to be a fantastic weekend of top class hockey at another world class venue. Information regarding the Match schedule and ticket sales for the event will be announced in the coming weeks.
