The National Hockey League (NHL) would welcome playing games in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.
At least that’s what Steve Mayer, the NHL’s content chief, said during The Drop podcast.
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“Mexico City is on the shortlist because our teams have a lot of interest in going there and exploring that market,” he said.
All options are being considered, but organizing a match at the Azteca Stadium cannot be ruled out. The home of the football clubs Club América and Cruz Azul can accommodate 105,000 spectators. The NFL also hosted an American football game in this stadium in November 2022.
“In Mexico City, organizing an outdoor game might be a little more complicated due to the climate. But these are challenges for us that we are happy to accept,” admitted Mayer.
In addition to the climate, the altitude (2200m) at which the pitch is located could be difficult on the players’ bodies as they are not necessarily used to playing in these conditions.
Coyotes care
The Arizona Coyotes, who widely promote hockey among Hispanic fans, would also be highly inclined to participate in this project.
“I keep telling it [la LNH]: I don’t think you understand. If you believe there is a fan base in Australia, any American sporting event in Mexico represents a big deal for the country,” Coyotes president Xavier Gutierrez said in comments carried by the ESPN network.
The NHL hosted two preseason games in September between the Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes in Melbourne, Australia. Since 2017, the league has also been exported to Europe, with several games being presented in Switzerland, Finland, Sweden and Germany, but also in China.