Från ideell förening till vinstdrivande företag
en studie av svensk elithockey
Abstract We have in this thesis examined two elite hockey clubs in the Swedish Elite League, Brynäs IF and Linköpings HC. Our questions revolve around how they set themselves to bring in an external owner of the club. Our aim was to examine how Linköping and Brynäs stands on the issue of the external owners of the club, which is currently regulated by Riksidrottsförbundets 51/49%-rule which means that the club must control at least 51% of the club while external shareholders can take up to 49 %. Then, we compare the clubs with each other. Interviewees have been clubs club CEO:s and supporters club chairman. We have come to the conclusion that if a club full unbundling, ie. if the external owners may get more than 50%, will not only run for profit. It must go hand in hand with the sporting successes. We see that there is no problem with an external ownership. The potential owners have a emotional connection to the club and want the sporting success is an important cog in the organization. The culture of managing a sports club only for profit doesn?t exist in Sweden today. We also see differences between the clubs. Young Linköping are already today talking about some form of corporatization. Because the non-profit association is not such a good company to run such a large commercial operations. Old Brynäs is conservative and has not discussed the issue of external ownership.