Reports: German Hockey League Club EHC Munich To Join Red Bull 'Sport Empire'

Media outlets report that German Hockey League (DEL) club EHC Red Bull Munich "is supposed to become a part of the sport empire of Austrian energy drink producer Red Bull," according to the SID. The "Salzburger Nachrichten" newspaper reported that current Red Bull Salzburg head coach Pierre Pagé "will transfer to Munich and take over as sport director." This would mean that EHC GM Christian Winkler "has to leave" the club. Current EHC Munich head coach Pat Cortina, who has a dual position as EHC Munich and German national team head coach, "will focus solely on the national team after the end of the season." The club commented on the reports by saying, "Those are speculations that we don't comment on. There is no new information for us." Red Bull "got involved with the financially struggling EHC Munich ahead of the current DEL season." A key focus of the sponsor's involvement "is the building of a new arena." Currently, there is "a declaration of intent from the city" to build a new multi-purpose arena at the Olympic Park, which will function as a home for both EHC and Bayern Munich basketball. A complete takeover of EHC Munich by Red Bull will reportedly take place at the end of January after an audit (SID, 1/18).