Attendance Record Shattered in České Budějovice

The 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Czechia set a new all-time attendance record. A total of 122,331 fans flocked to the Budvar Arena in České Budějovice over the event, surpassing the previous high of 119,231 set in Winnipeg, Canada back in 2007. A number that eclipses not only the North American record but also doubled the best-ever European attendance: Finland’s 2019 tournament drew 51,247 fans in total. In fact, the only other Women’s Worlds that came close was Ottawa 2013 with about 98,155 fans, previously the second-highest turnout. By any measure, Czechia 2025 raised the bar – and then some – for women’s hockey crowds.

Such unprecedented numbers were fueled by consistent sell-outs and enthusiastic crowds. Every game featuring Team Czechia was a full house, with the arena’s ~5,860 seats packed to capacity each time. But it wasn’t just the home team’s games drawing fans. Local supporters poured in for neutral matchups as well, a rarity in women’s hockey. Heavyweight clashes like USA–Canada attracted over 5,500 spectators, but even a mid-day Group B game (Norway vs Germany) surpassed 5,000 in attendance. “To my understanding all the Czech games were sold out. But there were other games with more than 5,000 spectators,” noted IIHF Director General Matti Nurminen, praising the Czech turnout. By the final day, the steady stream of attendees pushed the tournament average to 4,218 fans per game, a figure once unimaginable in this competition.

Electric Atmosphere On and Off the Ice

The atmosphere in and around the arena made this tournament feel like a hockey festival. Inside Budvar Arena, Czech fans created a raucous, upbeat environment that impressed players and observers from around the world. With chants of “Češi do toho!” (“Let’s go Czechs!”) echoing, drums pounding, and supporters hopping in unison, the crowd turned each Czech game into a rocking “party” that raged through all three periods and beyond. “Everyone was jumping, the energy was unbelievably encouraging,” said Czech head coach Carla MacLeod, “I was completely blown away by it”. Even Canadian broadcaster TSN remarked on the “boisterous atmosphere electrifying the Czechs” during tight games. Players from many nations commented that the game-day energy in České Budějovice was unlike anything they’d experienced at a Women’s Worlds. It truly felt as if the passionate fan culture usually seen in European football or men’s hockey had been seamlessly brought into women’s hockey – and it energized every moment.

Outside the arena, the excitement continued in the expansive fan zone on Sokolský Ostrov (an island park nearby). In a huge tent that could hold 1,200 people, fans gathered each day for concerts, live DJ sets, and hockey-themed entertainment. It was a festival atmosphere: supporters enjoyed local food and the famous Czech beer (of which our team had plenty), played games, watched live broadcasts, and soaked up the carnival-like spirit of the event. “Concerts, live game viewing, partner fun, and a relaxed atmosphere with good beer and food,” is how organizer Jiří Šindler described the fan zone offerings. Over the course of the tournament, more than 40,000 visitors passed through the fan zone – a testament to how engaged and excited the community was. The arena and fan zone together created a 24/7 hockey celebration in České Budějovice, something rarely seen at a women’s tournament.

Unwavering Fan Support – In Victory and Defeat

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Czech fan support was its unwavering loyalty, even in the face of defeat. The Czech national team felt that support from the opening game to the final buzzer of their tournament. “It’s a big lift… playing in front of the Czech fans, family and friends gives us a lot of energy,” said forward Klára Hymlárová after the electric home opener. Her teammate Kateřina Mrázová agreed, noting how “…it’s really great to see a lot of people show up to support us… We really appreciate the fans.” This energy spurred the Czechs to some thrilling wins – such as a 3–0 debut victory and a 7–0 quarter-final rout – but the fans stayed just as loud when things didn’t go Czechia’s way.

Nowhere was this more evident than in the tournament’s heartbreaking conclusion for the home team. Czechia fell in an agonizing overtime loss in the bronze medal game, letting a 3–0 lead slip away to Finland. Yet even after that crushing defeat, the sold-out crowd refused to go quiet. As the stunned Czech players gathered on the ice, the nearly 6,000 home fans rose to their feet, applauding and cheering in unison to honor their team. An uninformed onlooker might have thought the Czechs had won a medal – “the arena… did not fall silent even after Finland’s comeback and [the crowd] loudly thanked the home players,” one report noted. “We didn’t want to disappoint the fans, we wanted to win a medal for them,” said defender Dominika Lásková, fighting back tears. “They deserved it for how they supported us the whole tournament.” Despite the loss, the fans’ ovation underscored that their pride in the team was unbroken.

This wasn’t a one-off reaction, either – Czech fans had shown the same loyalty earlier in the tournament. Even during a rough 7-1 loss to powerhouse Canada in the group stage, not a single fan left the stands. Lásková tipped her hat to the crowd, marveling that “even when we were losing to Canada 1-7, everyone stayed until the very end and no one left. We really appreciate that.” Such steadfast support is virtually unheard of in women’s hockey (where blowouts often empty arenas elsewhere), and it made a deep impression on the Czech players. “The fans were amazing – we wanted that medal for them,” Lásková reiterated, vowing that the team will use that inspiration as motivation going forward. In victory or defeat, the Czech fans’ passion never wavered, demonstrating an unconditional love for their team.

Hockey Culture and a Nation Behind the Women’s Game

The success of this tournament was no coincidence – it was the product of Czechia’s rich hockey culture and a rapidly rising interest in the women’s game. Hockey is often called “the Czech national sport,” and 2025 proved that this passion extends to women’s hockey when given the chance. “We know that you are a true hockey country, but you proved it again,” IIHF’s Nurminen said of the Czech supporters . Many long-time observers noted that Czechia treated the Women’s World Championship like a major event on par with any elite hockey competition. The local organizing committee intentionally modeled aspects of the tournament after the wildly successful Men’s Worlds Czechia hosted in 2015 and 2024, focusing not just on games but on fan experience and entertainment beyond the ice. “Czech fans showed again that they are absolutely the best in the world, because they support not only their team, but they enjoy the whole tournament,” declared Petr Bříza, the head of the organizing committee. Indeed, Czech spectators embraced every team and every game, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all participants. As Bříza pointed out, it’s “unique” – in many other countries, fans only show up for home team games, “which is why we have the records here” in Czechia.

Crucially, this tournament also rode a wave of momentum from the Czech women’s team’s recent achievements. In the last few years, Czechia’s women have emerged as a world-class program, earning their first ever Olympic berth in 2022 and historic bronze medals at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. That newfound success turned many heads at home. “Women’s hockey has been a little bit behind here in Czechia. So it’s really great to see a lot of people show up to support us,” Mrázová said, noting how much pre-tournament hype there was for this home championship. For Czech fans, the 2025 tournament was a chance to celebrate how far their women’s team had come – to show these players the same adoration that the men’s team has long enjoyed. Pride in the “Lionesses” was on full display. Families, schoolchildren, and longtime hockey die-hards alike packed the arena, waving flags and even making handmade banners for all teams (to the delight of players unused to such attention). “We’ve proven that we really are a hockey nation that lives for the sport,” said Czech Ice Hockey Association president Alois Hadamczik, crediting the fans and the city for creating an atmosphere that impressed the world. The Czech hockey community embraced this Women’s World Championship as something special, and in doing so, it showcased the best of Czech sporting culture – passionate, hospitable, and fiercely proud.

Praise from Players and Media Worldwide

The extraordinary scenes in České Budějovice drew praise beyond Czechia’s borders as well. International players and coaches were effusive about the experience of playing in front of such crowds. “It’s always fun to play against [the Czechs]” said Finnish goaltender Sanni Ahola, citing the intense but enjoyable atmosphere when facing Czechia on home ice. After one USA–Czech game, American forward Kelly Pannek told reporters, “It was just an amazing showing by the Czech players,” also crediting the Czech crowd for creating a challenging environment. The international media took note, too. Canada’s TSN network highlighted the “raucous crowd” and how it energized the underdog Czechs, nearly helping them upset Team Canada in one matchup. Across the Atlantic, Finland’s biggest sports daily was astonished at what it saw. “Hats off to Czech fans for the second spring in a row,” wrote Ilta-Sanomat, referencing how Czech supporters had amazed observers at last year’s men’s Worlds and now again at the women’s. “Women’s Worlds games are often played in front of empty seats, but here they’re sold out,” the paper marveled, contrasting Czechia’s crowds with typical women’s tournaments. They even pointed out that a Czech women’s game outdrew a Finnish men’s playoff game, an almost unheard-of comparison that underscores just how exceptional the attendance was.

Players on the Czech team expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support. “The atmosphere was amazing – some of our players had never experienced anything like this,” said Jiří Šindler, an organizer, noting how even seasoned international players were taken aback by Czechia’s noisy schoolkid-filled morning games. Coach Carla MacLeod, a two-time Canadian Olympic champion now behind the Czech bench, was visibly moved by the Czech fans. She beamed with pride seeing fans doing the wave and dancing in the stands for women’s hockey. “Let’s not take this for granted,” MacLeod urged, reminding everyone that this level of support is something special. The consensus from players, coaches, and media was clear: Czechia 2025 delivered an atmosphere and fan engagement level that women’s hockey has rarely – if ever – seen before. It became a benchmark for how great the Women’s Worlds can be when embraced by a passionate host country.

A New Era for Women’s Hockey in Europe

Breaking the attendance record in Czechia is more than just a statistic – it’s a turning point for women’s hockey in Europe and beyond. This tournament proved that with the right combination of organizing, promotion, and genuine local enthusiasm, women’s hockey can fill arenas and captivate a nation. “The World Championship in České Budějovice showed that we’ve set an example for other federations of how a women’s Worlds should look,” Petr Bříza observed, noting the rave reviews from overseas about the event’s success.

Indeed, officials from Canada and the US – countries long seen as the pillars of women’s hockey – were “absolutely amazed” by what they witnessed in Czechia. The hope is that other European countries will be inspired to follow suit. With Finland, Sweden, and others investing more in women’s programs, the blueprint from Czechia – passionate fans, strong host support, and a festive atmosphere – could ignite similar successes in future tournaments.

For the IIHF and hockey planners, Czechia 2025 sends a powerful message: Europe is ready to host marquee women’s hockey events on a grand scale. Traditionally, many Women’s World Championships with big crowds were held in North America, where interest has been strongest. But the record in Czechia shows that a European host can not only match but even outdo those North American numbers. This achievement may encourage the IIHF to award more tournaments to European cities known for their hockey fanbases, confident that they can replicate this excitement. It also suggests that organizers might aim even higher – perhaps using larger arenas or multiple venues – knowing the demand is there. As one Czech Facebook tribute proudly declared at the tournament’s end: “Díky, Česko! The hockey nation came together and created something exceptional in České Budějovice.” The legacy of 2025 is a renewed belief that women’s hockey, especially in Europe, can draw huge crowds and become a mainstream spectacle.

Finally, for the Czech players and fans themselves, this World Championship forged an unbreakable bond and a springboard for the future. Though the Czech team narrowly missed a medal, they earned something perhaps more lasting – the respect and hearts of a nation. The image of captain Aneta Tejralová saluting a sea of cheering fans after that tough bronze-game loss will be an enduring memory. “Our fans were incredible. They kept us going,” the players echoed throughout the tournament. With Czechia eyeing future milestones (like the upcoming Olympics), they carry forward the momentum of a home World Championship that proved the potential of women’s hockey. The 2025 Women’s Worlds in Czechia was more than a tournament – it was a tribute to how far the women’s game has come and a bold statement of where it’s headed. The record books will forever show 122k fans, but the true impact goes beyond the number: it lives in the chants, the smiles, and the inspiration that will fuel the next generation of girls picking up hockey sticks in Czechia and across the world.

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