ICC set to be transformed into professional ice hockey stadium

The only arena in Australia that can house a professional international ice hockey match, the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney is set to be transformed into a 6,000-seat professionally made ice stadium in a first for the Darling Harbour venue.

The pop-up ice hockey stadium is designed to cater exclusively to the 2019 Ice Hockey Classic Tour, set to descend on Darling Harbour on Saturday 15th June. The pop-up stadium is set to hold more spectators than any permanent rink in Sydney, reaching 55 metres long by 25 metres wide.

The rink is extremely uncommon in Australia and will be transported from North America via three 12 metre containers. 

On 9th June, a team of over 20 people will start unpacking, measuring out, laying down ice mats, boards and temper glass, before adding water and freezing it solid. The entire process will take three days to install and will be up for one day for the match.

The highly anticipated 2019 Ice Hockey Classic Tour is travelling to Australia in June where North America’s finest players from Canada and the USA will face-off to raise awareness and funds for the StopConcussions Foundation in association with Brain Injury Australia and Shoot For A Cure.

Founder and Global Director Kerry Goulet explained "we are honoured to bring this event to the heart of Sydney so that more people can experience the fastest game on the planet, ice hockey.

“Being in the iconic Darling Harbour and having international players from Canada and USA play against each other for StopConcussions Foundation and Brain Injury Australia is so important to us."

Partnering with the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) for the first time, this year’s AIHL All Star Game will be the official precursor to the 2019 Ice Hockey Classic USA v Canada game on Saturday 15th June.

For one night only, the AIHL All Star Game will welcome an unprecedented Australia cast, coming together in a new format forming a rivalry for many years to come.

Players from the Newcastle Northstars, Sydney Ice Dogs, Sydney Bears and Canberra Brave will make up the North team, while players from the Melbourne Ice, Melbourne Mustangs, Adelaide Adrenaline and Perth Thunder will make up the South team.

The 2019 Ice Hockey Classic Tour’s high-intensity showdowns will also take place at Newcastle’s sold out Hunter Ice Stadium and Melbourne’s newly named O’Brien Icehouse. 

The dates for the 2019 Ice Hockey Classic are as follows:

Newcastle – Hunter Ice Stadium: Wednesday, 12th June 
Sydney – ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour: Saturday, 15th June 
Melbourne – O’Brien Icehouse, Friday, 21st June and Saturday 22nd June 

Tickets for the 2019 Ice Hockey Classic are available from Ticketek.

For more information about the 2019 Ice Hockey Classic please visit www.icehockeyclassic.com.au