Venues announced for inaugural FIH Pro League

Hockey Australia has announced three of the host venues for the inaugural International Hockey Federation (FIH) Pro League that will commence in January 2019.

The tournament, that will see the world’s nine best men’s and women’s teams on a home-and-away basis, will be staged at the State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne; the Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart and the  Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre.

The League will see all Australian home matches played in February and March, before the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras travel abroad, with the finals series due to be played in June.

Announcing the venues, Hockey Australia Chief Executive Matt Favier commented “we’re delighted to confirm the three Australian host venues for the inaugural edition of the FIH Pro League where the best in the world meet off in an exciting league format.

“There will be plenty on the line in every match and we expect the FIH Pro League concept to garner great support around the country, which is why we’re spreading our fixtures out around Australia.

Australia’s FIH Pro League campaign will commence at Melbourne’s State Netball and Hockey Centre where the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras will take on the Netherlands on Saturday 2nd February, followed by Belgium.

Hockey Victoria Chief Executive Andrew Skillern added “we’re delighted that Melbourne will play host to arguably the world’s number one Hockey nation the Netherlands in Round One of the inaugural FIH Pro League.”

Hobart’s Tasmanian Hockey Centre will host the next round of fixtures on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th February with the Hockeyroos against China and Germany and the Kookaburras to meet Pakistan and Germany.

The Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre will host the remaining three home matches, with the Hockeyroos to play USA and the Kookaburras to meet Spain on Saturday 2nd March.

Australia will play Argentina and New Zealand in both genders in Sydney on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March, before the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras head overseas for their remaining eight matches.

Hockey NSW Chief Executive David Thompson concluded “it is very exciting to be hosting some of the world’s best hockey players here at Sydney Olympic Park next year. It will be an amazing opportunity for the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos to play in front of a packed-out home crowd and in a prime-time television spot.

“FIH Pro League will be the perfect curtain raiser for the 2019 hockey season and a great way to attract more young players to our sport. I’d also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Destination NSW for their assistance with getting this major international event to Sydney.”

FOX Sports will broadcast all 16 matches hosted by Australia’s Kookaburras (men) and Hockeyroos (women) as part of the game-changing FIH Pro League. 

Image: State Netball and Hockey Centre, Victoria.

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