Latvian fans create the party at the hockey World Cup
The hours before the release, the outdoor seating in the Globe area is increasingly being covered by burgundy and white. A bit into the World Cup tournament, even the security guards have gained Latvian national team jerseys and the rumor is that some of the restaurants have started serving Latv-beer-large strong at beneficial prices for those who wear something with the text « Latvija ».
Next to the Swedes and Finns, the Latvians are the ones who bought the most World Cup tickets. New burgundy white forces arrive by ferry and flight and replace those who were in Stockholm during the introduction to the championship, but cannot remain all the way.
Ieva Berzina-Agen is one of those who will travel back and forth to Stockholm to support her team, but from Denmark where she now lives.
– Right now we are many letters from Denmark here. Some of the matches we will look at the big screen screens in Fan Zones in Denmark, but then we will go back here. It will be good for the voice to rest a little, it will hopefully hold the least at least a quarterfinals, she says.
Several in the Ieva company travel at the Hockey World Cup every year it was still held, and also at the Olympics when the opportunity is given. With them, they have a drum – which, despite the bag ban, has been approved to bring into the Avicii Arena. Something the Latvian supporters have stuck to more than any others.
-The Finns have only had one drum, we have twelve, says Berzina-Agen.
The only smug in the Latvian The joy cup is beer prices on the arena that have become a national news. Latvia Public Service has been enlightened About Swedish alcohol laws, prices and what times it is Happy Hour in Fan Zone at the arena.
– And then it is a bit of a shame that the police force all the places here at the arena to close so early in the evenings.
The rivalry between the teams on the pitch is not noticed outside. Swedes, letters, Finns and Slovaks all party and take pictures together.
Wearing red coat takes egils from Latvia and cheers together with a couple of Swedish supporters on their way into the stand.
– We are doing so well here. The accommodation is good and the people are nice. Now we are just waiting for our guys to perform wonders. It is clear that we have to support them, he says.
And the Latvian players appreciate their loud fans. 37-year-old veteran Kaspars Daugavins enjoys the mood. He was in the Latvian team even 13 years ago when Stockholm last arranged the hockey World Cup, and thinks that just about everything is better now.
– In my opinion, 2012 was the most uninteresting championship ever. It was dead and so high ticket prices that even the Latvians stayed away. Now you notice that the Swedes have also longed for us, says Dauguavins.
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