Outdoor Game Hockey at Schalke's Stadium

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STORY:

The home stadium of German soccer club Schalke normally plays host to Bundesliga games.
But the usual grass pitch will give way to ice in 2010 - for the opening match of the ice hockey world championships, hosted by Germany.
The President of the International Ice Hockey Federation announced at the stadium in Gelsenkirchen that the tournament would start with a unique setting.
The IIHF hopes that if the match is played before a capacity crowd of 76,000 people, it could break the sport's attendance record:
[Rene Fasel, IIHF President]:
"It's just a great idea, it's fantastic, already I have goose bumps when I'm thinking about the idea during the opening with 76,000 people watching a hockey game."
Germany's head coach is looking forward to a memorable occasion:
[Uwe Krupp, Germany Head coach]:
"This is an opportunity for a player to be really in a remarkable setting and play a remarkable game that will be forever remembered when you're long done with the hockey career.”
The schedule for the 2010 world championships hasn't yet been confirmed.But the opening game is expected to feature host Germany against either Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland or the Czech Republic.