Ice hockey is mostly thought-about one of many fastest-growing sports activities within the UK, with the likes of soccer, rugby, golf, and tennis all having comparatively established help. Although it’s considerably extra widespread in North America and Russia, the EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League) loved attendances that exceeded 1.25 million throughout the 2024/25 season, and on-line viewing figures are additionally on the rise.
Most ice hockey arenas within the UK are multi-purpose, with the potential to rework into different forms of venues as a method of producing funds throughout the low season. We discover a few of the largest arenas within the UK beneath, and dive a bit deeper into the world of UK Ice Hockey.
Ice Hockey within the UK
The Elite Ice Hockey League contains groups from all UK member nations, with the Belfast Giants representing Northern Eire and the Cardiff Devils representing Wales. Scotland has three groups within the league: the Glasgow Clan, the Dundee Stars, and the Fife Flyers, whereas the remaining 5 groups come from England, together with the Sheffield Stealers, who’re at the moment on the high of the desk.
Even the specialists are discovering it arduous to decide on between the Sheffield Steelers and the Nottingham Panthers, with the chances among the many high UK licensed sports activities e-book operators and non Gamstop bookies tight.
The Cardiff Devils at the moment sit in third place on 11 factors, two behind the Steelers and one behind the Panthers, whereas the Manchester Storm are respiration down their necks on 10 factors. It’s this shut motion that’s so interesting to followers who can see the league desk utterly change in just some video games.
Different elements which have inspired ice hockey within the UK embrace its energetic environment and robust group amongst fan bases. The sport is among the extra accessible choices for households, with inexpensive tickets making it a greater choice than extra established UK sports activities.
On-line entry has made it simpler for followers to tune into dwell UK ice hockey matches and highlights, in addition to having the ability to entry a few of the greater leagues around the globe, together with the NHL. Social platforms have helped fanbases keep linked with groups, and the potential for development within the UK is very large, with tens of millions extra sports activities followers open to the potential of an thrilling Winter sport to get behind.
The Largest Capability Ice Hockey Arenas within the UK
With ice hockey being a comparatively new choice for UK sports activities followers, the infrastructure just isn’t but on the degree of nations the place the sport has been widespread for years. The potential for the game to develop within the UK is very large, and as crowds proceed to rise, purpose-built arenas will turn into a extra possible choice.
At current, multi-purpose arenas are getting used as Ice Hockey venues, however there are some nice choices for hockey followers.
Utilita Enviornment, Sheffield
The Sheffield Utilita Enviornment is the Metropolis’s largest indoor area with a high capability of 13,600 for seated and standing occasions like music, and at the moment 9,300 for the Sheffield Steelers dwelling video games. The primary ice hockey sport the venue hosted was the 1991 Benson & Hedges Cup Remaining that noticed the house facet beat Nottingham, with greater than 10,100 followers watching.
Nationwide Ice Centre, Nottingham
The Nottingham Nationwide Ice Centre dates again to the yr 2000, with a 7,500 capability for ice hockey and different sports activities, and as much as 10,000 for live shows. When it opened, it was the UK’s solely Olympic-sized facility that was designed to enhance ice skating entry for individuals within the native space.
Odyssey Enviornment, Belfast
The Belfast Giants play out of the Odyssey Enviornment, also called the SSE Enviornment, with a capability of 9,957. The venue additionally hosts live shows with a 14,000 standing capability for live shows. It opened in 2000 after being collectively funded by the Nationwide Lottery Millennium Fee.
The power additionally holds a bowling alley, multi-screen cinema, and eating amenities, making it a preferred vacation spot for Belfast locals.
Fife Ice Enviornment, Kirkcaldy
The Fife Flyers play out of the Fife Ice Enviornment, which initially opened in 1938 because the Kirkaldy Ice Rink. The hockey capability for the venue is a decent 3,525.
In addition to being dwelling to the world’s ice hockey workforce, the venue additionally hosts a wide range of different ice-related endeavours, together with determine skating, curling, and pace skating. As a multi-purpose venue, it has additionally held live shows, boxing occasions, and far more.
Braehead Enviornment, Glasgow
The Braehead Enviornment opened in 1999 and may maintain as much as 3,500 for ice hockey and different sporting occasions, or 5,200 for live shows. The venue has held a number of occasions, together with Masters Soccer, conventions, WWE occasions, and Beyoncé even performed there in 2004.
The venue is the present dwelling of the Glasgow Clan within the EIHL and the Paisley Pirates, who play within the SNL, the Scottish National League.
Coventry Skydome, Coventry
The Coventry Skydome is an leisure centre that boasts an Odeon cinema, Pure Health club, and Planet Ice, a 4,000 capability ice rink and occasion house.
Dundee Ice Enviornment, Dundee
The Dundee Ice Enviornment is Scotland’s fourth largest ice rink, with a capability of two,400, and is the house of the Dundee Stars.
Ice Enviornment Wales, Cardiff
The Cardiff Devils play on the Ice Enviornment Wales, also called the Vindico Enviornment, which has a 3,100-person capability and opened in 2016. In addition to being the house of the one Welsh workforce within the EIHL, it presents a wide range of ice-related actions, together with internet hosting skating classes, determine skating coaching periods, and an ice disco on Friday nights.
Conclusion
Whereas soccer is overwhelmingly the most well-liked sport within the UK, there are a rising variety of smaller sports activities which might be widespread in different nations, beginning to make an impression right here. The potential for ice hockey within the UK is very large, with a rising variety of spectators and contributors making it an thrilling time for the game.
