Source (German) Meanwhile, player Moritz Müller is complaining about pressure from the league and wants to start a players union/association together with six other players. Müller reports there is a lot of favourable feedback from other DEL players: "I believe that many of my peers will join in." Source (German)
The German government plans to compensate professional and semi-professional sports clubs (excluding the first and second soccer Bundesliga with their TV contracts) for gate receipts losses caused by COVID-19 from April to December 2020. Clubs will receive 80% of the net income they have had through attendance before the shutdown. An individual club can't get more than 800,000 Euros though. No less than 200 Million Euros will be provided for the clubs. Source (in German)
Bietigheim Steelers fail the annual performance audit and the league board has thus decided to not admit them to DEL2 for the 2020-2021 season. The other 13 clubs are all allowed to return. eishockeynews.de (in German)
The measures have now been approved by the German parliament. Source: eishockeynews.de (German) Meanwhile, the DEL has decided that the 2020-21 season will begin on the weekend from October 30 to November 1. The initial starting date (before Covid-19) would have been September 18. Source: eishockeynews.de (German)
The DEL has a new main sponsor that will also be the name sponsor of the league: Penny, a grocery discount chain. The reactions on German social media are snarky.
All 14 DEL teams from last year pass the audit and receive a license for 2020-21. The new starting date of the season has been confirmed respectively clarified: the league will gets under way November 1st.
Seems like Timo Pielmeier also didnt want to accept the paycut and is likely leaving Ingolstadt. EDIT: I should mention that he currently is only suspended but all signs point towards him leaving. (Source in German) https://www.br.de/nachrichten/sport/erc-streicht-pielmeier-begruendung-sorgt-fuer-diskussionen,S4ysJXJ
Update: Bietigheim have now been admitted to DEL2. They have to pay a fine for missing the original deadline. An external business consultant will monitor the club and report to the league.