Dynamo Pardubice Owner Petr Dědek Proposes Massive 9.6 Billion CZK Overhaul of Czech Extraliga Rights
Petr Dědek, the owner of Dynamo Pardubice, has launched an ambitious bid to secure the marketing and broadcasting rights for the Czech Extraliga, proposing a financial package that would fundamentally reshape the league’s economy. Through his company, Relmost, Dědek has submitted a proposal to the league leadership and the Czech Hockey Federation that could inject billions into the sport over the next 15 years.
The financial scale of the offer is staggering. Dědek is proposing an annual payment of up to 500 million CZK for the Extraliga clubs—a significant jump from the current annual distribution of approximately 200 million CZK. Under the terms of the 15-year proposal, the total sum earmarked for the league would reach 7.8 billion CZK, with additional periodic increases of 20 million CZK. Dědek has offered 100 million CZK annually to the Czech Hockey Federation for its portion of the rights, bringing the total potential investment to 9.6 billion CZK over the 15-year period.
However, this financial windfall comes with a set of strict conditions aimed at modernizing the league’s structure and infrastructure. Dědek is calling for the immediate abolition of the “baráž”—the promotion and relegation playoffs—which he described as a “mockery of hockey.” In its place, he advocates for a system of direct promotion and relegation to incentivize First League teams to invest in their squads and stadiums to meet licensing requirements.
“We want to motivate Czech hockey to move further,” Dědek stated.
Beyond structural changes, Dědek is pushing for a modernization of the fan experience. He has expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of several Extraliga arenas, arguing that some facilities are dragging the competition down and do not meet the standards the sport deserves. His vision includes upgrading stadiums to be more welcoming for families and children.
In a move that would mark a historic departure from tradition, Dědek also expressed a desire to expand the Extraliga to include a foreign team. While similar ideas have been floated in the past, they were previously shut down by the member clubs.
The proposal arrives while the league is still under contract with the agency BPA, a deal that runs through the end of the 2027/28 season. Currently, clubs receive roughly 14 million CZK annually from BPA, supplemented by bonuses for top-performing teams. Dědek’s plan would see individual club payouts potentially rise to 35.7 million CZK, though the specific terms of these payments would remain subject to negotiation.
When questioned about the details of the offer, Dědek remained guarded, stating that he intends to speak directly with the league and federation leadership before providing further comments. This bold bid represents a potential seismic shift in the financial landscape of Czech hockey, which could force a total reconsideration of how the league manages its commercial assets and competitive integrity.
