The ICE District will be the place to be in Edmonton for FIFA World Cup matches.
Sports fans in the Alberta capital already know how rowdy the ICE District gets for Edmonton Oilers playoff games, and now the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) is looking to bring that same atmosphere for the upcoming World Cup.
OEG announced on Wednesday that the ICE District will be hosting 97 free World Cup watch parties throughout the tournament for soccer fans to take in. The majority of these watch parties will take place in the Moss Pit just south of Rogers Place, while a select few will be in the ICE District Fan Park just east of the arena.
The watch parties are the kick-off event of the “Summer of Soccer in Edmonton” and will span from June 11 all the way until July 19.
“We are looking forward to celebrating the World Cup alongside Edmonton’s passionate soccer community this summer,” said Stu Ballantyne, the president and COO of Rogers Place and ICE District.
“With 97 matches being shown across the ICE District, Downtown Edmonton will be the centre of the action, bringing people together and creating a vibrant atmosphere in the heart of our city throughout the world’s biggest sporting event.”
A total of 17 “special games” will be shown in the tent at the Fan Park during the tournament, which includes each of Canada’s three preliminary round matches. The remaining 80 watch parties will be exclusively shown in the Moss Pit.
Nearly every World Cup match will be watchable in the ICE District, with the exception of seven games that start after 9 p.m. MDT.
The Fan Park tent watch parties will be the place to be during the World Cup, as OEG has promised that food trucks, live DJs, face-painting, and much more will be featured. Gates to these watch parties will open an hour before kick-off.
The ICE District Fan Park will also host a special soccer-themed Canada Day event on July 1, which will feature fun for the whole family, including music, cultural programming, and food alongside three separate World Cup watch parties throughout the day. Gates will open for the Canada Day event at 9 a.m.
Edmonton has already caught World Cup fever just days after hosting the Canadian men’s national team at Commonwealth Stadium earlier this week. Canada’s tune-up game against Uzbekistan attracted over 45,000 fans to the stadium, despite a torrential downpour.
Mayor Andrew Knack is confident that Edmontonians can continue that lively spirit during the World Cup festivities.
“Edmonton is a soccer city. With more than 25,000 young people playing the game here, this sport runs deep in our community”, said Knack in a press release. “We saw that passion on full display when more than 46,000 fans packed Commonwealth Stadium in the pouring rain to cheer on Team Canada, and we’re bringing that same incredible energy to the ICE District Fan Park downtown this summer.
“These viewing parties are free, fun, and made for families — and it’s just the beginning of an unforgettable summer of soccer in Canada’s number one sports hosting city!”
The FIFA World Cup is set to kick off on June 11 when Mexico takes on South Africa in Mexico City for the opening match of the tournament. Canada will open up its World Cup schedule against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto.
Originally published on Daily Hive.
