IIHF Women's World Championship slated to rock Utica with hockey fever. What to know
The 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, slated for April 3-14, is less than 50 days away.
The tournament will spotlight athletes from across the globe, competing for gold. All 29 games will be held in the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica – including preliminary round contests, quarterfinals, semifinals and bronze and gold-medal games.
“This event is special,” said Mohawk Valley Garden President Rob Esche. “It’s different from the civic pride during Comets games; we’re talking national pride. Oneida County is entering a global stage.”
What to expect?
The action is on the ice. But, what about other entertainment?
Project organizers gathered to unveil the full schedule and activities for the Subaru World Championship Village.
Centrally located on Whitesboro Street and Auditorium Drive, adjacent to the Adirondack Bank Center, the Subaru World Championship Village will offer a host of indoor activities including interactive virtual reality games, lawn games, and a biergarten, officials said.
Esche explained visitors will be able to watch tournament highlights and pre-game shows on large-screen televisions and take in live music from bands ranging from Nashville to New York. Outdoors, there will be a hockey “fun zone” and a Ferris wheel to offer passengers views above the city skyline, he added.
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. promised a party unlike anything the region has seen before.
“With the Subaru World Championship Village, downtown Utica is going to be transformed into an interactive entertainment hub that will bring music, games, food and more to complement the exciting hockey action taking place inside the Adirondack Bank Center," Picente said. "We can’t wait for everyone to be a part of this unique experience.”
2024 IIHF Women's World Championship
The women’s ice hockey tournament kicks off April 3 when Denmark faces Sweden. Later that day the U.S. women’s team will square off against Switzerland. Other preliminary round teams will include Czechia, Finland, and Canada.
Esche compared the mindset of the athletes to those from the 1981 Miracle on Ice film; despite adversity they each believe they’ll be able to maintain their reputation as top-tier teams.
This event marks the fifth time the U.S. has hosted the tournament, the last event was in 2017 when the games were held in Plymouth, Mich. Other host cities have included Lake Placid, N.Y. (1994), Minneapolis, Minn. (2001), and Burlington, Vt. (2012).
“Although it’s a non-Olympic year, it’ll bring that same energy and climate,” said Esche. “Cheering for your country is an unequivocal feeling.”
How does the county plan to accomodate?
Each game will be broadcast internationally.
“The Oneida County emblem will stretch across the globe,” Picente gleamed.
Local schools have coordinated field trips so students can attend the games.
“This event is a great chance for youth to witness women who have achieved such greatness,” assured Esche. “With all the cultures represented there’s a definite learning experience.”
Across the four-country region students in grades 2-6 will also receive an activity book with information about participating countries.
At the collegiate level, Utica University is hosting a Women’s Sports Summit on April 5. The event features a lineup of speakers including Angela Ruggiero, four-time Olympian in ice hockey who won a gold medal in 1998, silver medal in 2002 and 2010, and a bronze medal in 2006.
Apart from shifts in curriculum, the county plans to accommodate in other ways too.
According to Esche, the downtown business corridor will keep its TV’s tuned into the NHL networks. “During lunch at Babes or Delmonicos it’ll be near impossible not to get engulfed in the culture of excitement,” he said.
The Olympic athletes will be housed at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona. As overspill in Utica is anticipated Picente urged visitors to look at housing options across the region before booking itineraries.
Grab tickets, while they last
Reflecting on his experience participating in the Olympics Esche shared insight on "what to expect."
“As a player when you put on a jersey with your country's name across your chest you don’t even think about your name that’s on the back," he said. :When you hear the USA chant tears will come to your eyes and the hairs on your neck will stand up. As an observer in the stands it’ll be magical to watch the athletes express their nerves with such skill.”
Esche said while women’s ice hockey does not allow open-ice hits, as the men's sport does, it offers higher scoring potential instead.
“But, don't get me wrong– the women’s game is still very aggressive and confrontational," he said.
Tickets for all 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship games are still available and can be purchased by visiting 2024.womensworlds.hockey/tickets or stopping by the Adirondack Bank Center box office.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica to host IIHF Women's World Championship April 3 to 14
