Story Summary
Pardubice owner Petr Dědek, through his company Relmost, has approached Czech Ice Hockey with an offer to buy the complete bundle of Extraliga marketing rights beginning in the 2032/33 season. The proposal seeks to centralise marketing rights and league management within the federation, a stance that directly contradicts the model agreed by the clubs in August under which marketing rights would be sold as individual packages. The offer, which reportedly guarantees clubs about 500 million CZK per year for 15 years with 100 million CZK as bonus, has provoked strong objections from the Association of Extraliga Clubs (APK) and several club leaders. APK president Jan Tůma said the actions damage the association’s name and jeopardise a major step in joint commercialisation. The APK board has been tasked at a general meeting to prepare the next steps in response to Pardubice. Other elements of Dědek’s proposal include abolishing the relegation play-off (baráž) and allowing a foreign club into the Extraliga.
Key Facts
- Relmost, the company of Pardubice owner Petr Dědek, has offered to buy the entire package of Extraliga marketing rights from the 2032/33 season.
- In August, 13 of the 14 Extraliga clubs agreed that marketing rights would be sold by the clubs themselves as individual packages.
- Dědek’s offer rejects the package-by-club model and seeks to concentrate marketing rights and league management within the federation.
- Relmost’s offer guaranteed clubs roughly 500 million CZK per year for 15 years, with around 100 million CZK as bonus money.
- Dědek’s proposal reportedly included abolishing the baráž (relegation play-off) and opening the Extraliga to a foreign club.
- APK president and Mladá Boleslav general manager Jan Tůma said Dědek’s actions were damaging APK’s name as the association prepared for a major step in the joint commercialisation of Extraliga marketing rights.
- Litvínov chief Jiří Šlégr said it was unfortunate that one member was continually undermining what the clubs were trying to build together, adding that the package model gave clubs control over their own product.
- APK and Extraliga director Martin Loukota said the association must be able to protect the decisions of its bodies and the common interests of its members.
- Sparta owner Petr Vosmík criticised Dědek’s actions, saying they were damaging Czech hockey as a whole.
- The APK board was authorised at the general meeting to prepare further steps in relation to Pardubice.
IHM Discussion
The dispute sets up a fundamental governance clash: club control through individually marketed packages versus Relmost’s proposal to buy the rights as a whole and concentrate marketing rights and league management within the federation. Thirteen clubs have already backed the package approach, which gives clubs control over their own product. Relmost’s guarantee of roughly 500 million CZK per year for 15 years is central to the commercial debate. APK and several club leaders see the bid as a challenge to the agreed decision-making model. The association frames the issue as one of collective authority, and its board has been asked to prepare a response.
Why It Matters
How the Extraliga sells and governs its marketing rights will determine who controls broadcast and sponsorship revenue, how value is distributed between clubs, and who sets competition rules. Centralising rights and management could streamline commercial negotiations but would also concentrate bargaining power outside individual clubs. Proposals to abolish the baráž and to permit a foreign team into the league would alter sporting structure and promotion/relegation dynamics, with long-term consequences for competitive integrity, fan expectations and club finances.
Mini Q&A
Who made the offer to buy Extraliga rights?
The offer was made by Relmost, the company of Pardubice owner Petr Dědek.
What did Relmost offer the clubs?
Relmost guaranteed clubs roughly 500 million CZK per year for 15 years, with about 100 million CZK as bonus, in return for buying the entire bundle of marketing rights.
How does that proposal conflict with the clubs’ plan?
In August, 13 of the 14 Extraliga clubs agreed to sell marketing rights as individual packages; Dědek’s proposal seeks to buy the rights as a whole and to centralise control, which contradicts that agreement.
What concerns have club and APK leaders expressed?
APK president Jan Tůma said Dědek’s actions damage APK’s name during a major step in joint commercialisation; Jiří Šlégr said it undermines collective efforts, and other leaders say the association must protect its decisions and members’ common interests.
What is the immediate next step?
APK’s board has been tasked at the general meeting to prepare further steps in relation to Pardubice.
Coach Mark Comment
From a coaching and competitive perspective, commercial structures shape much more than income statements; they influence scheduling, broadcast reach and the incentives that clubs set for investment in playing squads and youth development. A model that fragments control allows clubs to tailor commercial deals to local strengths, while a centralised buyer can produce stability of income but may prioritise league-wide packaging over individual club identities. Coaches want predictability in competition rules – changes to relegation or the introduction of foreign teams would require clear safeguards to preserve sporting fairness.
What Comes Next
The APK board, having been authorised at the general meeting, will prepare the association’s next steps in relation to Pardubice.
IHM Final View
Petr Dědek’s proposal has brought a governance debate to the heart of Czech hockey. The offer’s financial terms sit alongside clear opposition from APK and several club leaders, while 13 clubs have backed the individual-package model.