Ice District to host 97 free World Cup watch parties
The Oilers Entertainment Group is bringing the same playoff energy to soccer fans starting June 11.
The Ice District will be ground zero for World Cup fever this summer. The Oilers Entertainment Group announced Wednesday it's hosting 97 free watch parties throughout the tournament, with the majority set up in the Moss Pit just south of Rogers Place and select matches at the Ice District Fan Park to the east.
The watch parties run from June 11 through July 19 and cover nearly every match. Seventeen "special games" will be shown in a tent at the Fan Park — including all three of Canada's preliminary round matches. The remaining 80 will play exclusively in the Moss Pit. Seven matches starting after 9 p.m. MDT won't be screened.
The Fan Park is the main draw: food trucks, live DJs, face-painting, and gates opening an hour before kick-off. The Ice District already proved it can handle World Cup crowds — Canada's tune-up match against Uzbekistan at Commonwealth Stadium drew over 45,000 fans last week despite heavy rain.
The Fan Park will also host a family-focused Canada Day event on July 1 with music, cultural programming, and three separate World Cup matches. "Edmonton is a soccer city," Mayor Andrew Knack said in a statement, pointing to the 25,000 young people playing the game locally.
The World Cup opens June 11 with Mexico versus South Africa. Canada's first match is June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.