Written with the help of artificial-intelligence tools and checked by automated controls.
EHC Kloten is set to write a new page in its history. The Zurich club will inaugurate its Hall of Fame at the SWISS Arena on Saturday, August 23, 2026, a permanent space dedicated to the players, coaches, and executives who have marked the nine decades of the Aviators' existence. The project, announced last May, is entering its final phase after several months of archive collection and museographic preparation.
A project designed by and for fans
The club's management owns it: this Hall of Fame will not resemble any traditional museum.
The club's management owns it: this Hall of Fame will not resemble any traditional museum. "We do not want to create a static museum space, but a place where our shared past remains alive," EHC Kloten explained in its official press release of May 27, 2026. The club has called on its supporters to finance part of the project and to collect objects, jerseys, photos, and testimonials. A crowdfunding campaign has raised several tens of thousands of francs, proof that fans' attachment to the club's heritage goes far beyond the mere sporting framework.
Founded in 1934, the club from the north of Zurich has experienced all eras of Swiss hockey. Five Swiss championship titles — the last in 1996 —, generations of emblematic players, National League seasons, and more difficult spells in the Swiss League. The Hall of Fame will tell this trajectory, from the outdoor rinks of Schluefweg to the current SWISS Arena. The initiative is part of a memory work started several years ago by the most loyal supporters, who document the club's history through personal archives and stories passed down from generation to generation. Names like Peter Jaks, Felix Hollenstein, or Roman Wick, who wore the Aviators' jersey before shining on the international stage, should logically be among the first inductees.
An inauguration in the midst of summer preparation
The calendar is no coincidence. August 23 falls in the middle of pre-season preparation. The SWISS Arena hosts several friendly matches during August, with entry set at 15 Swiss francs per person — subscribers benefiting from free admission. The club hopes that the opening of the Hall of Fame will strengthen the bond between the team and its public before the start of the 2026-2027 National League.
The inauguration will not be limited to a simple ceremonial protocol. Activities, meetings with former players, and screenings of historic moments are planned throughout the day. The club wants to turn this event into a true popular celebration, worthy of what this local pantheon represents for a community that has followed the Aviators for nearly a century. A temporary exhibition will also retrace the club's great moments, with pieces rarely shown to the public.
A growing trend in Swiss hockey
Kloten joins a broader movement. Several National League clubs have recently invested in showcasing their heritage: temporary exhibitions, retired jerseys, commemorative spaces. Swiss hockey, with a history rooted in the 1920s, seeks to capitalize on this legacy to retain a younger audience and attract new partners. EHC Kloten's approach stands out for its participatory nature: few clubs have involved their supporters so much in the very design of the project.
The inauguration on August 23 will be open to the public upon registration. The first names of inductees have not yet leaked, but Aviators fans already have their favorites. In Kloten, the past clearly has a future.