Ice Hockey World Championship 2027 - At the WM-Opening Event 2027, DFL was instructed (for the Bundesliga)
The German Ice Hockey Federation's participation in the planned outdoor opening game of the World Championship 2027 depends on the cooperation of the German Football League. "We are talking about the 2026/27 season - we need to make an agreement with the football side that we are allowed to make ice on the grass there," said DEB-President Peter Merten in Mannheim.
Opening event in Duesseldorf or at Schalke planned
The arenas in Duesseldorf and Gelsenkirchen are available. Merten referred to the fact that the football season in May 2027 will still be in full swing and the schedules must be taken into consideration. Moreover, it is still unclear at this point which leagues the local clubs Fortuna Duesseldorf and FC Schalke 04 will be playing in. "The advantage at Schalke is that you can roll out the ice there. In Duesseldorf, you would have to replace the grass afterwards. That's something you have to pay for," said Merten.
The employee emphasized that an opening game under open skies, due to the larger number of spectators, is a "economic turbo". "There is a certain chance that we will get that," he said about the negotiations with the IIHF.
Opening event at Schalke in WM 2010
An opening event took place at Schalke during the World Championship 2010 in our own country. At that time, around 78,000 spectators came and set a new world record.
- The German Ice Hockey Federation is seeking cooperation from the German Football League for their participation in the World Championship 2027's opening game.
- The DEB-President, Peter Merten, discussed the potential for an outdoor game in Mannheim, considering the 2026/27 season and the football side's requirements.
- Arenas in Duesseldorf and Gelsenkirchen are viable options, but the football season in May 2027 and the local clubs' leagues remain uncertain.
- Merten highlighted the feasibility of an open-sky game at Schalke due to the ability to roll out ice, contrasting Duesseldorf where grass would need replacement.
- An economic boost is anticipated from an open-air game, with a larger audience potentially leading to significant financial gains.
- The German Ice Hockey Federation experienced a successful opening event at Schalke during the World Championship 2010, with approximately 78,000 spectators setting a new world record.
- In Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, ice hockey and football fans will keep a close eye on the federations' negotiations with the IIHF for the planned event in 2027.
- Schalke 04, a prominent German football club based in Gelsenkirchen, might host the World Championship 2027's opening game if negotiations with the relevant parties are successful.
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