Sinisa Ostoic: "More digital input, huge excitement and potential changes"

Sinisa Ostoic

More digital platforms, pure excitement and the plan to have more clubs in the future...
Read the interview with Mr. Sinisa Ostoic, managing director of the SEHA Gazprom League, prior to the Final 4 in Brest, Belarus.

Since six seasons, Sinisa Ostoic is the managing director of the SEHA – Gazprom League. Before the start of the eighth SEHA - Gazprom League Final 4 in Brest, the Croat draws his conclusion on the regular season and looks ahead on the Final 4 and potential changes in the future.

Ostoic is responsible for the entire organizational area of the league. Before the start of the upcoming eighth SEHA - Gazprom League Final 4 in Brest Ostoic draws the conclusion of the regular season and looks ahead not only to the Final 4, but also on the potential changes ahead.


Only with the very last goal of the very last regular season match the final ranking of the table was decided. Did you expect such a tension until the end?
It was an outstanding finish of a high-class, exciting regular season, which is the gateway to a great Final 4 event. We have already seen many great moments, we are very happy with the season so far. It can go on like this in Brest. Everything is open, all teams are on an equal level. This tension is also evident in the huge fan interest since the start of the season.

For the first time a team from Romania - Steaua Bucharest - played in the SEHA - Gazprom League. What are your experiences?
It was a big challenge for everyone, especially as far as the whole organization is concerned. We are satisfied, the interest in Romania was great, and over the course of the season, Steaua has developed very well in all areas. We are very pleased with the cooperation, as well as in cooperation with all the other nine clubs.

The goal of the board of the SEHA - Gazprom League is to continuously improve. What became better in the 2018/19 season?
The most important thing is: From an organizational point of view, there were no problems at all. The sportive area I have already mentioned since we had a significant increase in the performing level and the tension in this season. I also think we have improved even further in the overall organization. An important point was new sponsorship contracts, for example with our new outfitter hummel. We've definitely improved a lot on our media platforms, the app, the website, the digital platforms like the social media, the new TV graphics - all of these elements have helped us attract many more new fans across Europe. These are all great results of the season.

What do you expect from the SEHA - Gazprom League Final 4 in Brest?
Brest had already organized a great final tournament in 2017, and together with the city's 1000th anniversary, that was the reason to award the hosting rights of the tournament again to Brest. We are very confident that in 2019 it will again be a great event with great fans and high class competition.

The future playing system is on the agenda of the general assembly of the SEHA - Gazprom League in Brest. What are the current plans?
Our plan is to increase the number of participants from ten to twelve teams, which then play the regular season in two groups of six, a similar playing system as well as in the Champions League. With this new system, we want to further increase the attractiveness of the SEHA - Gazprom League, but such a change is also a big challenge. And we are in talks with clubs from many countries.