Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena to stage Southern Hemisphere's first-ever NHL games

Melbourne will become the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to host National Hockey League (NHL) games with two pre-season fixtures to be played at the city’ Rod Laver Arena in September.

Melbourne’s largest indoor arena will stage preseason games between Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings in the 2023 NHL Global Series on 23rd and 24th September.

The Coyotes and Kings will skate on a rink the NHL will construct at the 15,000-capacity venue - whose roof will be closed during the matches.

On the back of growing interest in the game in Australia, the NHL see that the Australian fixtures will be a significant move to grow the game.

Commenting on the fixtures, NHL Senior Executive Vice President, Media and International Strategy, David Proper stated “the intention would not be to come to Australia, play and never come back.

“The intention is to make this a recurring set of games and help continue to grow hockey in the market.”

The trip will be the farthest the NHL has trekked from North America after playing often in Europe and occasional games in Asia.

Advising that the League sees potential in Melbourne with its extensive experience adapting to unique venues overseas and outdoors NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman noted “we are delighted to bring the excitement and passion of the National Hockey League to the dynamic city of Melbourne and the great sports fans of Australia with the 2023 Global Series games.

“The Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings are two of our League’s rising young teams and among our most innovative and adventurous franchises. We know this history-making visit will thrill our many avid fans in Australia.”

Explaining that the fixtures are a result of almost a decade of discussions and more than a year of planning, Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos commented “securing the NHL’s first ever games in the Southern Hemisphere is a win for fans and will deliver big benefits for our tourism businesses.

“These games will promote Melbourne and Victoria to millions of potential visitors watching around the world.”

Built primarily to house a tennis court, one end of the Rod Laver Arena is retractable allowing a larger ice hockey rink to be accommodated.

While the NHL usually pumps glycol from a mobile refrigeration unit to create ice for its temporary venues, it will use a system developed by a Dutch company called Ice World in Melbourne.

The NHL will put down a layer of plywood over the tennis court and, instead of putting aluminium pans on top of that, the League will use Ice World’s system.

Pipes will sit inside a rubber liner, which will be filled with water. After freezing an initial base of about 1 inch of ice, the NHL will build the ice much the same way it does for an outdoor game, painting it white, laying lines and logos made of fabric, and using a spray boom to mist fine layers to water to ensure a dense, thick sheet.

Activities and entertainment will be part of the NHL program at the Rod Laver Arena and the surrounding Melbourne Park precinct.