The NHL® Global Fan Tour will revolve around the 2018 NHL Global Series™ and 2018 NHL Global Series Challenge™ games involving the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils. Both the Oilers and Devils will begin their respective training camps overseas, with the Devils opening their exhibition play on Oct. 1 vs. SC Bern at PostFinance Arena in Bern, Switzerland. The Oilers will start their exhibition schedule vs. Kölner Haie at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. The Oilers and Devils will then meet in Gothenburg, Sweden to open their NHL regular season on Oct. 6 at the Scandinavium. The 2018 NHL Global Series™ will conclude with two games between the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 1and Nov. 2 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.
The NHL® Global Fan Tour is expected to entertain masses of fans, both new and old, from Sept. 22 through Oct. 14. The mobile museum will feature a one-of-a-kind digital Stanley Cup display, allowing fans the opportunity to scroll through and re-live some of their favorite Stanley Cup moments. Interactive player information screens embedded into the walls of this hockey sanctuary will allow fans to gain more insight on their favorite players, while also providing them with NHL game footage, all at the control of their own fingertips. Fans can stop for a customized photo at the players' bench, which will give them a digital souvenir of the event. Attendees can also stop at the Upper Deck tent to get their very own personalized hockey card created.
The mobile museum also will allow fans the opportunity to sit in a replica of a professional locker room stall and try on some of the equipment that their favorite players wear. Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame, participants will be able to learn about the evolution of the game of hockey and the equipment, all while reveling in some of hockey's oldest artifacts.
Outdoor activations will be set up to engage fans of all ages, helping to expand and explore their love for the game. The Hardest Shot station will allow shooters to test the velocity of their slapshot and how it stacks up against some of the NHL's hardest shots. Fans can also put their finesse to the test in the Hankook Accuracy Shooting Challenge, presented by Hankook, as they attempt to hit a series of stationary targets in the net. Fans will be able to quench their thirst thanks to Nocco, who will be on-site sampling some of their products.
The interactive Kids Corner will give younger fans the chance to play ball hockey, color in hockey-themed pictures and learn how to properly wear equipment.
In addition, NHL players from the past and present, team mascots, as well as players and team mascots from European teams will occasionally be on-site to meet fans and take photos.
"Following the success of last year's Centennial Fan Arena, the decision to bring a new mobile fan experience to our European fan base was an easy one," NHL Executive Vice President, Media & International Strategy David Proper said. "The Global Fan Arena will make stops in Switzerland, Germany and Sweden prior to the Global Series games, enriching the overall hockey experience for fans of all ages. With seven international contests scheduled for the upcoming season, three which will be regular-season matchups, the NHL has once again reinforced its commitment to bringing hockey to a more global fan base for years to come."
The fall tour calendar includes the following stops and is free and open to the public:
Saturday, September 22, Nuremberg (GER), Jakobsplatz
Saturday, September 29, Bern (SUI), Vorplatz Westside Mall
Wednesday, October 3, Cologne (GER), Vorplatz Lanxess Arena
Friday, October 5, Gothenburg (SWE), Scandinavium Arena
Saturday, October 6, Gothenburg (SWE), Scandinavium Arena
Saturday, October 13, Berlin (GER), Alexanderplatz
Sunday, October 14, Berlin (GER), Vorplatz Mercedes-Benz Arena
*Times will be announced at a later date
For more information on the NHL Global Fan Tour,
https://facebook.com/pg/NHL/events
. To join the conversation, use the official hashtag #NHLGlobalSeries.
