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RSS Feed Blog17. 01. 12. - 15:00
Tova and the Stadt- The Good Old Hockey Game
As a Canadian, it is pretty much obligatory to be a hockey fan. Is it in the air, or in the water, or is it that from the time we can walk we are strapped into a pair of cheesecutters (two blade skates) and forced to endure minus twenty days with a windchill factor of minus forty while hearing our parents yell out, "It’ll build character!"? Who knows. But yes, I am a hockey fan. When I moved to Vienna almost 8 years ago, for the second time, I had an urge to drink some beer and catch a game. Now mind you, while living in Canada, I never attended any pro hockey games. Prices are astronomical and pretty much the only way to get a free ticket is to have birthed one of the players. And during playoffs even that isn’t a given. But yet, in Canada, the stadiums are packed. What’s that old joke about Canadians? Oh yes, why do Canadians go to hockey games? So that they have a warm place to watch a fight. Oh ha ha.
But I digress. My first winter here in 2004, my husband and I made our way to the Albert Schultz Halle at Kagran station to watch the Vienna Capitals. We were prepared to take out a small loan to purchase decent seats. But much to our pleasant surprise, the tickets were shockingly cheap. I felt like standing on a bench and yelling out "Tickets for everybody! Or maybe just for you two people standing over there!" The hall was smaller than I expected and there was no large screen to show replays so I had to really focus. At each goal was a standing section and the fans were out in full force even though there were many many empty seats. The fan base for the Capitals is strong. But I think that can be said for any Austrian team. The arch enemies are of course the KAC from Klagenfurt. I’m not going to go into detail lest I start receiving hate mail.
But as time has gone by some things have changed due to what seems to be an increased interest. Firstly, the hall underwent a major renovation. The VIP section, which I still am waiting for an invite to, was moved and is apparently larger and nicer. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been. Seat capacity has also increased. Secondly, ticket prices have increased but it is still affordable. And thirdly, there are fewer Canadians playing on the Capitals. Just an observation.
What is so fascinating about a hockey game here is the atmosphere in the stadium. When players are being introduced, the announcer will yell out the first name and the crowd will yell out the second. (There were a lot of Canadians on the team seven years ago, I can assure you.) Also, a remarkable fact, noted by a dear friend, is the music they play during the game. None of this "Mama’s Gonna Knock you Out" music. Au contraire; they play pop-like stuff and for some odd reason that Greek song that everybody knows. Maybe the ancient Greeks invented hockey? I doubt that.
So if you are ever stuck for a fun winter activity idea, consider catching a game. They now have screens so you can watch replays in case you missed a goal because you were too busy balancing your frankfurter and pint of beer. It has been known to happen. Here is the website with all the information http://www.vienna-capitals.at/newsarchiv.html Happy Hockey Watching!
Austrian Times
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catching beer Capitals stadiums Canadian game music Vienna section rsquo ticket increased players goal Hockey Prices screen play hall Greek
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