77,803 fans watch hockey game between USA and Germany

The opening game of the IIHF World Championships between USA and Germany was played in Gerlsenkirchen at the Veltins Arena football stadium in front of 77,803 people.  That is the highest recorded crowd to watch a hockey game. The history-making audience broke the old record of 74,554 spectators, set in a 2001 game between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.  Germans won the game 2-1.