Want to watch the women's ice hockey championships in Utica? It's time to buy tickets
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If you want to see the American and Canadian women’s ice hockey teams play each other in Utica next month, you’re already too late — unless, of course, the two teams also meet in the championship rounds.
Tickets for the preliminary round game on April 8 sold out as fast as, well, a hockey puck flying toward the goal during a championship game.
But organizers of the 12-day International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Hockey Championship, taking place from April 3 to April 14 at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, pointed out that tickets are still available for lots of other games between the 10 competing nations.
“We were expecting this (USA-Canada) game to draw well and it’s lived up to our expectations,” said Robert Esche, president of Mohawk Valley Garden in a statement. “It’s important to welcome the world and fill the arena for every game and the excitement is certainly building so I encourage everyone not to wait, but buy tickets now and be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The USA team, the defending champions who have played in every gold cup game since the tournament began in 1990, will also play Switzerland on April 3 at 7 p.m., Czechia on April 5 at 7 p.m. and Finland on April 6 at 7 p.m.
But be aware that one of Esche’s “once-in-a-lifetime" games will take place during another once-in-a-lifetime event: the solar eclipse that will reach 99% blockage of the sun at 3:24 p.m. on April 8. The game between Switzerland and Finland starts at 3 p.m. that day.
A ticket doesn’t just buy the holder admission to one game of the championship, it provides 12 days of access to the Subaru World Championship Village that will be set up in the former Audelicious building and outdoors at Whitesboro Street and Auditorium Drive. People with tournament credentials and VIP package holders can also get into the village, but the general public won’t be admitted without a ticket to a tournament game.
The village’s indoor attractions will include: interactive virtual reality games, lawn games played on artificial turf, a biergarten, live music, food and beverages from area restaurants and large-screen televisions showing tournament highlights and pre-game shows.
More: Utica University women's hockey players hand out IIHF activity books to excited students
More: IIHF Women's World Championship slated to rock Utica with hockey fever. What to know
The World Championship Ferris Wheel will dominate the outdoor portion of the village, which will also offer an interactive hockey “fun zone,” vendors, live entertainment and, according to organizers, a carnival-like atmosphere.
All the teams competing in the championship include: Canada, China, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.
Tickets are $10 to $17 for most preliminary games, $32 to $48 for preliminary games featuring the USA or Canada, $33 to $48 for the quarterfinals, $38 to $53 for the semifinals and $53 to $63 for the gold medal game.
Although the word links is usually associated with golf, here are all the links you’ll need to enjoy the tournament:
Tickets: Or stop by the Adirondack Bank Center box office.
More information on the Subaru World Championship Village (as it becomes available): Go here.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: IIHF Women's Hockey World Championship tickets selling out
