On Thursday, October 12th, Niclas Thiel, Commercial Director of the German Hockey Association until the end of September, was awarded the renowned HORIZONT SPORTBUSINESS AWARD. Thiel was named “Player of the Year” for his work for the German Hockey Association and his special achievements in the sports business industry. He joins the ranks of former prize winners and well-known personalities such as Oliver Bierhoff, Felix Magath and Christian Seifert. The German Hockey Association is very pleased for Niclas Thiel and the recognition of his work in the association over the last two years.
The jury of the renowned award consciously decided in favor of Thiel and the DHB and against, for example, other candidates from the omnipresent football. Rather, it was important to the jury to hand over the prize to a sport that “far too often goes under the media radar”. Although the German national hockey teams repeatedly celebrate great international success and hockey is the most successful team sport in Germany, there is often a lack of awareness and media appreciation. In addition, Niclas Thiel faced a mountain of challenges when he took office in October 2021.
Mara Monetti/HORIZONT
Video credits: HORIZONT
Niclas Thiel receives HORIZONT SPORTBUSINESS AWARD
Recognition for the development work in the DHB
The award recognizes the following development work that Thiel and his colleagues in the DHB have done over the last two years. When he took office, the DHB’s finances were certainly the biggest challenge. Niclas Thiel said at the time that they were in a “tense financial situation”. The fact that he managed to significantly improve the economic situation of the DHB during his two years at the helm – first with sports director Christoph Menke-Salz, later with his successor Martin Schultze – is worth the “Player of the Year” award for the award jury. Other reasons highlighted were the award, the development of a new strategy for the association, the further development of digitalization and the establishment of structures in which new sponsors feel comfortable. There was also sporting success: at the Hockey World Cup in India in January 2023, the German national team won the world championship title. Another highlight for the DHB followed this August with the home European Championships in Mönchengladbach.
The following other prizes were awarded by HORIZONT Verlag:
Medium of the Year: The media alliance of eleven companies that have come together to give the Special Olympics World Games the visibility they deserve.
Sponsor of the year: Penny, through her commitment to the German Ice Hockey Association.
Photo credits: Mara Monetti/HORIZONT
