Interest in the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship is already surging in Germany. A total of 38,000 tickets for the tournament’s opening game at Schalke’s Veltins-Arena sold within just a few hours.
The opening game, scheduled for May 13, 2027, will see host nation Germany face Switzerland, the runner-up at the previous World Championship.
The first sales phase for the opening game at the Veltins-Arena has now officially closed, underlining the level of interest surrounding the tournament.
Ticket packages still available in Düsseldorf and Mannheim
Fans can still purchase ticket packages for games taking place in Düsseldorf and Mannheim.
Available options include venue packages covering all games at a specific location, game-day packages for the quarterfinals and a final-round package for Düsseldorf covering the semifinals, the bronze-medal game and the final.
The remaining ticket packages have also generated significant interest, with fans continuing to secure their places for the tournament across the two host cities.
Second sales phase to begin in September
The second phase of ticket sales will begin in September 2026 and will also include additional game-day packages.
Claus Gröbner, managing director of the organizing committee for the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship, said the early demand demonstrated the level of anticipation surrounding the tournament.
“38,000 tickets in just a few hours — that figure speaks for itself. This enormous response shows how much fans are looking forward to the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Germany 2027,” Gröbner said.
He added that the organizers want to create a genuine ice hockey experience at the Veltins-Arena before carrying the excitement to Düsseldorf and Mannheim.
Germany still searching for a head coach
Germany is also yet to appoint its head coach ahead of the tournament. Former NHL players Christian Ehrhoff and Marcel Goc are among the names reportedly being considered for roles within the national team setup.
The appointment of a new coach or team manager could further fuel excitement around Germany’s hosting of the 2027 World Championship.