The Ice Hockey World Cup seems to be the privilege of only a few. At the same time, the atmosphere of the games also dies, writes journalist Jussi Paasi.
Jussi PaasiWrites about the World Championships from Tampere
The Yankee boys have come to Tampere for vacation. Eating wings, drinking beer, partying in nightclubs! Ice hockey is a side event for them in the World Cup.
In any case, the USA team was written and talked about in Finland before the start of the World Cup. Fun team.
I don’t know if anyone bothered to look at the US lineup before the tournament started. It might have been worth it. There are thirteen players with NHL status. Thirteen.
The Finnish team has five NHL players. Five.
Jukka Jalonen knew that there was no fun team against them. The first set of the opening game was tough from Finland.
In the second batch, deep sighs could be heard in the galleries of the Tampere arena, where the corporate guests were bulging. The USA really dominated the game. Finally, at that point, it became clear to even the most sleepy that the opponents who were taunted as boys were indeed men.
And these men know how to play hockey at a really good level.
USA’s clear 4-1 victory over the reigning champions is the best thing that could happen to the Games.
Finland’s superiority on the World Cup ice has sometimes reminded me of the Norwegian skiing team. When gold medals are hung around the necks of the representatives of the same country year after year in one sport, it doesn’t serve anyone in the long run.
The USA did a great service to the World Cup with the victory. And poked the doubters in a handsome way.
The atmosphere is like a church
The lions did not succumb to arrogance. The USA was simply better in everything. But on the side of the stands, you could see what arrogance and greed can do.
The atmosphere almost throughout the game was like a church. The decibels only rose when the arena masters of ceremonies asked the crowd to scream during stoppages.
There is nothing surprising about that – i.e. the total lack of atmosphere. The arena was full of corporate guests.
Ticket prices are outrageous at the World Cup, at least when measured by the wallet of the famous regular tramper. If even a family of four wanted to come to the Lions’ match, they would have to dig more than one hundred notes out of their wallets.
I do understand the law of supply and demand very well. The arena was full in the opening game. So you can relax at the office of the ice hockey association with satisfaction. The cash register sings. All right.
I still dare to say that corporate guests would also like sound and atmosphere in the hall. And there would immediately be a ridiculously easy solution: a fan stand.
While watching the opening of the World Cup, I missed the finals of the hockey SM league. Back then, there was an atmosphere in this same Arena, which was largely responsible for the fan stand.
For real fans, tickets are cheaper, and a couple of grandstand blocks at the other end of the arena for their use. The atmosphere would be guaranteed.
The words that were uttered in the Urheiluhullut program on Monday of this week also crept into my mind. Regular guest of the podcast Blue Forsblom stated that “if the dive comes, it comes outside the ice”. He referred, among other things, to the ticket prices and the inability of the Ice Hockey Federation to deal with grievances.
The Ice Hockey World Cup seems to be the privilege of only a few – i.e. the well-off – at this rate. If it hasn’t already.
It is sad. At the same time, the atmosphere of the games also dies.
The ice hockey association should remember what kind of end the greedy have.
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