In Hockey, You Can Not Work
Toronto started the World Cup, and the only place you know, like all debugged in the NHL and all conveniently done for journalists and fans. I was surprised only that there is no shortage of tickets in a hockey city in the world.
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Last time I was in Canada in 2008. On that trip were strange memories (except goal Ilya Kovalchuk). For example, I came to the stadium , Prime Minister of the country and walked down the hall, shaking hands with others. And his guards politely asked not to stand in the way. They do not repelled, but simply asked. I leaned against the wall, while he shook my hand and. I also remember how Daniel Markov yelled at me for what I have mentioned somewhere that he smokes. Reproached me Markov in the city of Trois-Riveer, standing with a cigarette in his hand. Although ... I remember the stadium began to make noise when in Cuba showed Alexander Radulov, which was not included in the application for the match. And full stands on some match weak opponents. And remember Igor Zakharkina, gathered journalists after the finals at the hotel. He drew diagrams which allowed to win the tournament on the table.
Before the match, Canada - Czech Republic near the arena was a crowd, long queues. Wandered people shouting about discounted tickets. About the discount is usually announced in promotions, but I went over and said - 125 dollars for a comfortable place in the lower sector. It's very cheap, considering that on the other "Toronto" matches under any circumstances are not there.
But most interesting is that the box office tickets were full. And at the first meeting of the tournament at all could get for half the price of par. And this Saturday, and it's in Toronto. Why, because the huge interest in the tournament? Well, it seemed to us. Personally, I have no answer. Maybe the real team in Europe no one cares.
This small attendance does not affect the organization of the tournament. For journalists, there are all conditions. For example, the IIHF can not use the camera or in the mixed zone, nor in training. And in Canada it is not paying attention. Do not remove the game itself - it is a legal requirement. And all around - please. Advertisers would be nice if they fall into the frame on any channel on the Internet.
But the biggest surprise - chat with the players after the match. Coaches are in the press center, and journalists were not driven into some room. Players are sent to the press and put at a table, talking to them calmly minutes fifteen to twenty. It turns out - hockey at all, you can not work? Do not do the whole match, and lead you to the players.
Yes, the match organizers participants are selected, but they lead by five to seven people. Most do not. Moreover, you can ask any questions completely. Why do not the KHL, given that in some stadiums is technically impossible to make the mixed zone? Sloth? I do not want to bother?
Souvenirs - for every taste. Moreover, its range varies between matches. For example, in the afternoon to play teams in Europe, and everywhere you can buy T-shirts of the team, hats, scarves. In the evening on the ice came the Czechs - all over the Czech T-shirts and paraphernalia. I'm not talking about Canadians - the Canadian has always sold. But all this does not concern the main fan shop tournament. There's a choice that you can leave all the money that you took with you.
I note and very good quality products. The price of suvenirku not too high. For example, the washer is 10 local dollars - 500 rubles. She seems to cost more than in Moscow. For T-shirts will have to pay 40 to 100 dollars, but it's worth it.
I talked a lot about how everything is organized. And certainly people who often go to NHL games, will not be able to fully evaluate all - are used to. But I have some work in Russia. So the police do not go to the rostrum. Quite a bit of walking down the corridor of the stadium, follow the procedure does not hurt. When I was just a little conflict. Two fan of Team USA Census and behaved too noisy. They were advised to calm down, checked the tickets and sent to the stands. That's all.
The police here are polite, but very strong. In Toronto, the heat, they are in short shirts and it is clear that many have been hockey school. Inflated, smart. These flood the offender in one second.
At the same time it is clear that Canada - a socially oriented state. Maybe benefits here and a small (but I'm not an expert here at all), but the jobs are created from scratch. For example, in a conventional elevator for three lifters. All their work - to press the correct button.
There is a security guard who was guarding an empty corridor, in which no one should be on the training arena, "Rikon." For some reason it seems to me that there is much more such corridors. But it is all friendly and really try to help. So early in the morning some employee (just three people sitting at a table and do not do anything) not only led me to the press center, and explained all the rules, patiently picking his words. As it turned out, he informed me, is absolutely true. Might and nervous, given that due to acclimatization, I confused the word "morning" and "Monday".
Somewhere near the stadium and running the fan zone. As long as it was not possible to reach, but colleagues say that it is done no worse than in Moscow. I mean as big. However, there is a difference. For example, many more competitions and simulations, and the beer can be taken anywhere. And, of course, if you bought a souvenir puck, you will be able to go with her to the stadium. In Moscow, for some reason, was forced to surrender it to the storage chamber.
For fans, there are all conditions, of course. And with food can pass into the stands, and beer, and even lemonade. However, in this case it is still poured into a plastic beaker. Toronto itself - perfect. However, in some moment it seemed that baseball is more attention. For example, on my street are several shops showcase form exhibited with baseball logo. Maybe just a bad street.
But if you come to the store, where they sell the press, all the illusions disappear. The most prominent place six magazines, where the first players flaunt. And "Sports Illustrated" some kind of retro photo. Plus all trinkets with maple leaf.
Maybe the local fans just going with the forces and therefore failed the first day of the World Cup?
