FC Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeneß said that "he would welcome it if Borussia Dortmund would join the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) with a team," according to Oliver Völkl of FOCUS ONLINE. Hoeneß "knows that competition is good for business" from his experience in the football Bundesliga, where Bayern Munich "was pushed to world-class level by Borussia Dortmund after two seasons without winning any titles." Therefore, Hoeneß "would welcome a team from Dortmund in the BBL." Hoeneß: "I would be very happy if a lot of other clubs would get the idea. I would like to talk to [Dortmund Managing Dir Hans-Joachim] Watzke about basketball every once in a while, if he would start doing something in that area. It would help the sport tremendously." The new BBL season starts on Oct. 2 (FOCUS ONLINE, 9/24).
NEW ARENA: In Munich, Matthias Kerber reported German Hockey League (DEL) EHC Red Bull Munich GM Christian Winkler said that "a new multi-purpose arena is expected to be built in the next three to four years." The new arena "would be paid for by Red Bull if the city provides the necessary infrastructure." The hockey club would share the new arena with Bayern Munich Basketball. The club's current home, the "old concrete monster" known as Olympiaeishalle (Olympic Ice Center), has been renovated for €3M ($4M) and received a new high tech video cube. In addition, the VIP area was increased to 300 square meters. A VIP season ticket now has a price tag of €3,000 ($4,050) (ABENDZEITUNG MÜNCHEN, 9/23).
