Martin Straka | Photo: hcplzen.cz
On the first of May, player transfers began to be published, Pilsen introduced seven new reinforcements, but now they are coming with one, but far more important one. Škoda from Pilsen enters the new season 2023/24 with changes in the ownership structure. Martin Straka will be joined by Autocentrum Šmucler in the role of co-owner of the club. Škoda Group remains the general partner.
“For a long time I have been looking for a strong partner who would be involved in the management of the club. I am very happy that I found it at Autocentrum Šmucler, owned by Jan Šmucler and Miroslav Bláha. I will continue in the club, no other option was considered,” says Martin Straka.
Pilsen has not had a good season in recent years, having been eliminated three times in a row already in the preliminary round. This year, in a five-game battle, it was not enough for the White Tigers from Liberec.
“Everyone in the organization wishes to move up the table and overall in the competition. In recent years, we have stopped in place, and none of us want that. On the contrary. We want to achieve success together.”
“Everyone in the organization wishes to move up the table and overall in the competition. In recent years, we have stopped in place, and none of us want that. On the contrary. We want to achieve success together,” adds Martin Straka, co-owner and deputy chairman of the board of directors of HC Škoda Plzeň.
Autocentrum Šmucler, which from May 2023 will become a co-owner of hockey team Pilsen, is supposed to help towards a better tomorrow.
“We have been operating in the Pilsen region for more than 30 years and since 2017 we have been a partner of HC Škoda Plzeň. During the seasons together, we created a well-matched team, which is now entering its next continuation. Our common goal is to bring Pilsen hockey back to the forefront, and therefore we will join forces on the way to its fulfillment. Martin is a hockey legend and understands hockey like few others, so we want to free his hands so that he can concentrate more on sports matters. Miroslav Bláha and I will manage the club from its commercial and operational side. We have a fifty-fifty split with Martin,” said Jan Šmucler, new co-owner and chairman of the board of HC Škoda Plzeň, at the signing of the contract.
“Martin is a hockey legend and understands hockey like few others, so we want to free his hands so that he can focus more on sports matters. Miroslav Bláha and I will manage the club from its commercial and operational side.”
“We are primarily focused on strengthening the HC Škoda Plzeň brand and the club’s relationship with partners and fans. Success at the sporting level can only come if all the components of the club function and work as one unit. We want to communicate transparently, honestly and openly with our partners and fans. We believe that only together we can achieve the goal in the form of the already mentioned success,” wishes Miroslav Bláha, also a new co-owner and member of the board of directors of HC Škoda Plzeň.
All the mentioned changes were presented to the public at a festive press conference on Tuesday, May 9, which took place at the Šmucler Autocenter in Pilsen on Borská Street. On the same day, the club symbolically launched the sale of permanent tickets for the new season, both online and in person at the club’s fanshop in the LOGSPEED CZ Arena.
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2023-05-09 09:40:00
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