The tournament this year offered lots of news. Gothia Disco had had a name change to Club Gothia and the meeting place was also new.
Every evening it was possible to receive over 4000 guests to the E-hall in Svensk Mässan (Swedish Fair Trade Centre) without nobody needing to queue.
Further Gothia Players Corner was inaugurated. A meeting place for all participants in ‘track suit’. The Star Bowling at Friggagatan had been rented for the whole week for this purpose. Approx. 1500 players amused themselves every afternoon and evening.
Liseberg finally introduced Gothia Super Ride Pass. For the amount of 335 SEK the participants had free rides during the whole week, that was very appreciated.
The record audience around Heden could enjoy the incredibly strong B16 category where the great world teams beat other world teams time after another.
Even the girl category G15 offered a lot of great football playing.
The Opening Ceremony beat the former record in number of audience with 45120 spectators. The audience was given a two hour long show that will be remembered for a long time ahead. Best ever, was the most common opinion.
The weather was normal, if that expression could be used. During Tuesday afternoon there were some raining though, that consequently involved that a number of playing fields were closed for the rest of the week.
Gothia Cup is now waiting for the big establishment of artificial grass playing fields in Gothenburg.
Gothia Cup carried out a big “guest analysis” that resulted in lots of praise.
But it also showed that the teams are a lot more competitively focused than anyone believed. Fields, referees and distances were the most important factors.
A wonderful challenge for coming year.
