New World Cup trophy revealed

[DanCan]

NHL has now presented the new World Cup trophy. The trophy is designed by Frank Gehry. I have no information about the material, but if you have some info, please post it here.

[Jazz]

Hmmmm..

They still have not got it right.....

Looks a little awkward to me.....

[bling]

Some info on the World Cup Trophy.
Note to Dan-Can, this trophy is presented by the World Cup of Hockey Organizing Commitee, it has nothing to do with the NHL.

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TORONTO - The World Cup of Hockey 2004 Organizing Committee unveiled the new WCH 2004 Championship Trophy on Wednesday. Designer Frank Gehry presented it to WCH 2004 Organizing Committee members Ted Saskin and Ken Yaffe at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Gehry, a Toronto native and life-long hockey fan, was approached by the WCH Organizing Committee last year to create a new trophy for the upcoming tournament that would reflect the global spirit of the game. The trophy will be awarded to the winning team September 14.

"I was raised with it (hockey)," Gehry explained. "We were a poor family so the only thing I could do was listen to Foster Hewitt on Saturday night. It is because of my interest in hockey that I was even interested in designing the trophy. I think my understanding of the game and what trophies mean to players, and to the fans, made it a very important assignment."

The trophy is comprised of four components: a base, pedestal, cup and shell. It's made from a composite alloy of copper and nickel as well as solid cast urethane. The pedestal and base provide support or a "stage" for the shell and cup. The cup sits inside the trophy and is removable from the top of the shell for engraving and display purposes. The shell is made of an array of twisted rectangular shapes sitting on end that are reminiscent of skate marks in the ice.

Water-clear urethane was used to give the trophy an "ice-like" appearance and Stereo Lithography Apparatus (SLA) was used to precisely shape the components into a multi-dimensional puzzle.

"I've seen all of the (NHL) trophies," he said. "They are all very traditional. I think the one thing about the first World Cup of Hockey trophy is that it broke from tradition and it opened the door for us to do a new one."

[MarmotMike]

The new World Cup Trophy will take a while to get use to but I like Gehry's designs. He's known for his curvy, metal sculptured buildings.

The famed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (Spain). Someday I'll go visit!



I've been to Gehry's Experience Music Project Museum in Seattle. Very cool building!


I hear the acoustics is great inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

[Jazz]

According to TSN, they changed it from the 1996 incarnation because many people were complaining that the old one was too heavy. It apparently weighed over 50 lbs.

[Thor]

"So it's THAT Gehry?!"

All of a sudden even mrs. Thor has become very interested in the World Cup..

[TampaLightning]

That arena looks cool. Very postmodern! Also dunno about the cup. Looks OK, I guess.

[DanCan]

bling said:

Some info on the World Cup Trophy.
Note to Dan-Can, this trophy is presented by the World Cup of Hockey Organizing Commitee, it has nothing to do with the NHL.

Sorry Bling, it has everything to do with the NHL!

The World Cup of Hockey is organized by the NHL and NHLPA in cooperation with IIHF.

The World Cup of Hockey Organizsing Committee is composed of officials from NHL and NHLPA as well as representatives from the 8 participating countries, along with IIHF President Fasel

The Committe is led by NHL Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Bill Daly, NHL International Group Vice President and Managing Director Ken Yaffe, and NHLPA Senior Director of Business Affairs Ted Saskin.

As your article pointed out, the trophy was presented by Yaffe and Saskin from the NHL/NHLPA.

[bling]

DanCan,I know that the World Cup of Hockey is a joint venture with NHL, NHLPA and IIHF.

Perhaps I am again picking nits, but your statement that the NHL had presented the trophy to someone or something, made it sound like it was an NHL trophy or that the NHL was entirely responsible for it's creation.

Although supported by the NHL, NHLPA and IIHF, the World Cup of Hockey Orginization is NOT the NHL.

[sammy]

Nice enough looking cup, but how are you supposed to drink champagne out of it without breaking it?

[NyQuil]

I think we, as Canadians, are too familiar with the Stanley Cup as being the prototype for any hockey trophy.

Personally I kind of like it, if only because it doesn't really look like any other trophy I've ever seen. Apparently Gehry has maintained some some adjustment can be made to have team names added somehow.

I think, once you get used to it, it will be fine.

I still like the big half Maple-Leaf from the Canada Cup, and Tretiak's comment in his autobiography about it:

"In 1981, the Soviet team was packing it up in their bags, when Eagleson and his associates ran in, screaming, what are you doing???"

"Apparently, the executives didn't think the Canada Cup could be taken with them, unlike the European tradition. Either that or they didn't trust the "Communists"

Just confirms the notion that the Canada Cup was always Canada's to lose.

[DanCan]

Mike, the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao is one of the most fantastic museums I have ever visited. Make it a top priority on a European visit. You can run with the bulls in Pamplona (not far from Bilbao) as well (the bull run takes place 6-14 July this year).


btw, when was Gehry's Experience Music Project Museum in Seattle built? Perhaps another reason to re-visit Seattle.

[MarmotMike]

DanCan, I believe the Experience Music Project Museum was built in 1995. The building's exterior is a wonder. However, I'm not sure if the exhibit inside is worth the cost unless one is a big fan of Jimi Hendrixs...

*lights guitar on fire*

[Amar]

Ugly trophy!

[EveB]

A bit too modern for me to like it..

After all, World Cup is a continuation of Canada Cup and hence a tournament with some tradition. Dunno. The buildings by Gehry are however great.