NHL Global Fan Tour Engages Fans Ahead of Sabres-Devils Season Opener

PRAGUE — The NHL has transformed Galerie Harfa into a hockey-themed extravaganza, creating an engaging environment for fans. This development is part of the NHL Global Fan Tour, which coincides with the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia presented by Fastenal. The tour provided a diverse range of activities for fans before they witnessed the Buffalo Sabres face off against the New Jersey Devils at the O2 Arena.

The Fan Tour, located adjacent to the O2 Arena, was operational on Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, closing an hour before the commencement of the 2024-25 NHL regular season. It opened again on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mark Black, the NHL’s vice president of international operations and international strategy, emphasized the tour’s goal, stating, “You can go to the game, but there’s more than just the game that you can come out to. It allows us to educate about what’s important from the NHL and the players.”

In its sixth year, the Global Fan Tour has already captivated over 275,000 fans across 35 cities in eight countries. The tour features numerous activities, including accuracy shooting, hardest shot competitions, mini hockey rinks, and bubble hockey. There are also more novel activities, such as a hat trick challenge and an E-Gaming tent featuring EA Sports NHL '25, which was released in Czechia on Friday. Fans had the opportunity to test some of the fitness evaluations familiar from the NHL Draft Combine, seeing how their scores compare to NHL players.

The NHL has brought Statues of notable players, and posters of Devils forward [Player Name], Sabres defenseman [Player Name] and Boston Bruins forward [Player Name] were also distributed. Black added, “The kids love it. It’s a connection to the NHL.” The Fan Tour continues to expand its influence, with permanent setups in Czechia, Finland, Sweden, and Australia.

Adam Saffer, a former player in both the Ontario Hockey League and Czech Extraliga, serves as the project manager for NHL events. Saffer remarked, “Most of them have never held a stick in their life and that’s why we have staffing from junior players from local hockey teams so they can teach the kids how to hold a stick and be relevant to those kids.” The NHL’s initiative thus not only amplifies its global reach but also fosters local engagement by providing immersive experiences and learning opportunities.