Seit 2010 wird das FINAL4-Turnier der VELUX EHF Handball Champions League in der Kölner LANXESS arena ausgetragen. Auch in diesem Jahr hatten sich Handballfans aus ganz Europa gefreut, im Mai ein ausgelassenes Fest in der Rheinmetropole zu feiern. Nachdem das Event aufgrund der allseits bekannten Lage hinsichtlich des neuartigen Corona-Virus erst kürzlich in den August verschoben wurde, steht nun eine erneute Verlegung auf den 28. und 29. Dezember fest.

Die ARENA Management GmbH dokumentiert nachfolgend das Statement der European Handball Federation (EHF):

“OFFICIAL STATEMENT: The final weekend of the VELUX EHF Champions League has been moved to the end of December 2020 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the European Handball Federation has postponed the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2020, setting 28 to 29 December 2020 in Cologne’s LANXESS arena as the new date for the showpiece event of European club handball.

The final weekend of the VELUX EHF Champions League had been initially scheduled for 30 and 31 May. However, in the light of the global health crisis, it had already been moved once to its first alternative date – 22 and 23 August – before it was postponed for a second time. 

Tickets that have already been bought remain valid for the December edition. 

Contingency plans at early stage 

“From the point of view of European club handball – and this opinion was supported by the main club representatives in a coordination meeting last week – there is the common will to stage the EHF FINAL4s in 2020,” said Wiederer. 

Already in the second week of March, the EHF had named 22 and 23 August as the first alternative date for the VELUX EHF FINAL4. 

While continuously monitoring the spread of the coronavirus across Europe as well as different governmental measures to contain it, over the past weeks contingency plans were made with local partners and the City of Cologne – and LANXESS arena was tentatively reserved for 28 and 29 December 2020 – should it not be possible to hold the August dates. 

At its meeting on 24 April, the EHF Executive Committee will decide on how the European handball season 2019/20 will come to an end. This will also include announcements on the ‘Road to Cologne’, i.e. the qualification of clubs to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2020. 

“In any case, this will be a decision based on sportive results achieved in rounds already completed,” said Wiederer. 

Damit wird der Sieger der VELUX EHF Champions League am 28. und 29. Dezember 2020 in der Kölner LANXESS arena ausgespielt. 

Sichern Sie sich die letzten Tickets:

unter der LANXESS arena-Tickethotline 0221-8020

im LANXESS arena Ticketshop

(Willy-Brandt-Platz 2, 50679 Köln)

im Internet www.lanxess-arena.de

oder www.facebook.de/lanxessarena

und an allen bekannten Vorverkaufsstellen.