Outdoor WJC Div-III game in Mexico City

[kaiser matias]

This Sunday the Division III World Junior tournament starts in Mexico City. Participating teams include Bulgaria, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, Serbia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), and Turkey. Obviously no major hockey powers there, and an otherwise non-notable tournament.

Except the opening game Sunday night will be a first for a World Junior tournament, in any division. Mexico is playing Bulgaria on an outdoor rink; with free admisison, organisers expect up to 50,000 people to show up.

Of note is that the average temperature for Mexico City in January is 23°C (73°F) during the day and 9°C(48°F) at night. Some would argue that it is way to warm to have an outdoor game, and that ice probably wouldn't work there. However, the Plaza de la Constitución, also known as Zócalo, has had an ice rink built there several times, one that measures 240 by 240 metres (800x800 feet).

So the success of this game should make the NHL consider the possibility of a Winter Classic in a southern US market. After all if Mexico City can host one, Miami or Phoenix should be able to.

IIHF article about the event

Click to read more...

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

This Sunday the Division III World Junior tournament starts in Mexico City. Participating teams include Bulgaria, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, Serbia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), and Turkey. Obviously no major hockey powers there, and an otherwise non-notable tournament.

Except the opening game Sunday night will be a first for a World Junior tournament, in any division. Mexico is playing Bulgaria on an outdoor rink; with free admisison, organisers expect up to 50,000 people to show up.

Of note is that the average temperature for Mexico City in January is 23°C (73°F) during the day and 9°C(48°F) at night. Some would argue that it is way to warm to have an outdoor game, and that ice probably wouldn't work there. However, the Plaza de la Constitución, also known as Zócalo, has had an ice rink built there several times, one that measures 240 by 240 metres (800x800 feet).

So the success of this game should make the NHL consider the possibility of a Winter Classic in a southern US market. After all if Mexico City can host one, Miami or Phoenix should be able to.

IIHF article about the event

That's pretty awesome.

I wish we could play Mexico one game. I'd like to see how that would turn out. I'm serious - just to see where they are in terms of ability.

 

[Made Dan]

Really cool, but even if the ice could work, if it's 73 out there the players will be sweating their balls off.

 

[Prussian_Blue]

This Sunday the Division III World Junior tournament starts in Mexico City. Participating teams include Bulgaria, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, Serbia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), and Turkey. Obviously no major hockey powers there, and an otherwise non-notable tournament.

Except the opening game Sunday night will be a first for a World Junior tournament, in any division. Mexico is playing Bulgaria on an outdoor rink; with free admisison, organisers expect up to 50,000 people to show up.

Of note is that the average temperature for Mexico City in January is 23°C (73°F) during the day and 9°C(48°F) at night. Some would argue that it is way to warm to have an outdoor game, and that ice probably wouldn't work there. However, the Plaza de la Constitución, also known as Zócalo, has had an ice rink built there several times, one that measures 240 by 240 metres (800x800 feet).

So the success of this game should make the NHL consider the possibility of a Winter Classic in a southern US market. After all if Mexico City can host one, Miami or Phoenix should be able to.

IIHF article about the event

IIRC, an outdoor rink was built in Vegas for an exhibition game one year. As long as you're not trying to play on a day where it's 110 degrees, or in a location where there's 90 degrees and 90% humidity at game time, it should work from a technical standpoint.

It's the ambience of playing outside in the cold and the snow that is the main appeal, though, I think.

 

[dystemper]

that's pretty awesome.

 

[kaiser matias]

IIRC, an outdoor rink was built in Vegas for an exhibition game one year. As long as you're not trying to play on a day where it's 110 degrees, or in a location where there's 90 degrees and 90% humidity at game time, it should work from a technical standpoint.

It's the ambience of playing outside in the cold and the snow that is the main appeal, though, I think.

While that is true, Mexico City kind of lacks that so as the article says:

Opening game played between Aztec pyramids, the Cathedral, and the National Palace.

Should still be good ambience.

Also going to be broadcast live in Mexico and throughout Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

 

[alexthekidd]

Despite the quality of the sides involved, it's interesting to note that New Zealand is carrying six '94 born players.

 

[Hollywood Burrows]

holy balls

I want to see footage from this game.

I will eat my keyboard if 50,000 people show up.

 

[Lard_Lad]

Yeah, we definitely need video of this. The picture of the rink in the IIHF story looks pretty spectacular.

Bulgarians better be in good shape, though. What's the elevation there, something like 7000 feet?

 

[Shootmaster_44]

With the garbage that Sportsnet 1 seems to carry these days (I mean 6 month old World Team Tennis games?) I would hope they would consider broadcasting this game. I'd love to see it.

Heck, if no sports channel will carry it, why not TeleLatino? I hope the IIHF realizes that this is generating some interest here. I'm assuming they'll stream it.

 

[Intact]

This Sunday the Division III World Junior tournament starts in Mexico City. Participating teams include Bulgaria, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, Serbia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), and Turkey. Obviously no major hockey powers there, and an otherwise non-notable tournament.

Except the opening game Sunday night will be a first for a World Junior tournament, in any division. Mexico is playing Bulgaria on an outdoor rink; with free admisison, organisers expect up to 50,000 people to show up.

Of note is that the average temperature for Mexico City in January is 23°C (73°F) during the day and 9°C(48°F) at night. Some would argue that it is way to warm to have an outdoor game, and that ice probably wouldn't work there. However, the Plaza de la Constitución, also known as Zócalo, has had an ice rink built there several times, one that measures 240 by 240 metres (800x800 feet).

So the success of this game should make the NHL consider the possibility of a Winter Classic in a southern US market. After all if Mexico City can host one, Miami or Phoenix should be able to.

IIHF article about the event

Wait what?

 

[Neil Patrick Harris]

Wait what?

You didn't know North Korea had national hockey teams?

 

[Intact]

You didn't know North Korea had national hockey teams?

I guess not than

 

[Koss]

That's nice. It's just the way the Mexicans & Bulgarians learned to play hockey. On the fronzen ponds.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Better have LOTS of water on hand.

 

[Evil Doctor]

I love going on the IIHF websites and looking at the results for the lowest level of competition and seeing teams from countries one would not think of as capable of playing hockey. There are some member countries whose total registered players doesn't go much beyond those playing for their 'national' team...

It's also interesting to look at some of their uniforms. Greece, Israel and Australia have some nice ones...

 

[Canada4Gold]

Better have LOTS of water on hand.

they will, when the ice melts

I'm not expecting 50 000 people to show up to this, but the fact that's it's free will help, hope it gets streamed

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

holy balls

I want to see footage from this game.

I will eat my keyboard if 50,000 people show up.

Why? MC has such a huge population, 50,000 is nothing there.

 

[lakai17]

Why? MC has such a huge population, 50,000 is nothing there.

let them support an NHL team then, we can send the Maple Leaf's or Flames there. Bettman would approve.

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

let them support an NHL team then, we can send the Maple Leaf's or Flames there. Bettman would approve.

Mama mia what has the NHL to do with 1 outdoor game?

 

[Shrimper]

If 50,000 people are willing to turn up to see Mexico vs Bulgaria then that is a huge kudos to them. North Korea will be interesting to watch.

 

[dmacgreg37]

Man, my sympathies are with the coaches and players if the North Koreans struggle after the World Cup.

 

[MugenSilverSiR]

That's awesome. I wish I could be there to be part of that festivities! It's amazing to see where hockey is nowadays.

The coolest game on earth!

 

[y2kcanucks]

Man, my sympathies are with the coaches and players if the North Koreans struggle after the World Cup.

I'd love to watch a Canada vs. North Korea hockey game

 

[bruinsfan46]

That's pretty awesome.

I wish we could play Mexico one game. I'd like to see how that would turn out. I'm serious - just to see where they are in terms of ability.

http://www.ohahockey.org/news_article/show/72728?referrer_id=12829-news

The LaSalle Vipers (a Jr. B team from around Windsor) took a trip to Mexico and played their under 20 team. LaSalle won the first game 9-2, the second game got canceled because of poor rink conditions.