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What Could UK Ice Hockey Achieve with a £2bn Investment?




What Could UK Ice Hockey Achieve with a £2bn Investment?

In March 2025, Manchester United unveiled ambitious plans for a new £2bn, 100,000-seater stadium, a project expected to generate 92,000 jobs and 17,000 new homes across Greater Manchester. While football continues to dominate UK sports investment, this raises an interesting question: what could UK ice hockey achieve with the same level of financial backing?

Using Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena as a benchmark—the last major ice rink built in the UK, which opened in April 2000 for £43 million (around £50m today with inflation adjustments)—a £2bn investment could fund 40 new arenas across the country. The potential impact on British ice hockey would be game-changing.

Expanding the UK Ice Hockey Map

Currently, top-tier ice hockey in the UK is limited to a handful of established markets, including Sheffield, Nottingham, Cardiff, and Belfast. Many other cities and large towns lack professional-standard ice facilities, limiting both participation and spectator interest.

With funding for 40 new arenas, we could see the emergence of professional teams in major cities such as Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, transforming the sport from a niche interest into a truly nationwide competition. The availability of high-quality rinks in more regions would enable the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) to expand and develop a more robust league system, possibly introducing a second professional division with promotion and relegation.

Economic Benefits & Job Creation

The Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham generates over £40m per year for the local economy, supporting hotels, restaurants, transport services, and retail businesses. Over its 25-year lifespan, the venue will have contributed over £1bn to the city’s economy.

Applying the same economic model, 40 new arenas could collectively generate up to £1.6bn annually, providing a substantial boost to local businesses and job creation across the UK. Additionally, each arena construction project could create over 3,000 jobs, leading to more than 120,000 new jobs across multiple sectors.

Grassroots Development & Increased Participation

One of the biggest barriers to the growth of UK ice hockey is the lack of accessible rinks for grassroots players. Compared to nations like Canada, Sweden, and Finland—where access to ice is widespread—the UK has a severe shortage of facilities. More rinks would mean:

  • Increased youth participation: More children and young adults could take up the sport, leading to a stronger domestic talent pool.

  • More ice time for existing teams: Amateur and junior teams often struggle to secure ice time due to limited availability.

  • Development of national training programs: A national academy system, similar to those in Sweden or Finland, could be established to develop elite British players.

Raising the Profile of British Ice Hockey

A major investment in rinks and arenas would create the opportunity to host high-profile international tournaments, including IIHF World Championships and Olympic qualifiers. The increase in infrastructure would also make the UK more attractive for professional leagues like the NHL to host preseason or exhibition games, further raising the sport’s profile domestically.

Additionally, with more professional-standard venues, the EIHL could secure stronger broadcasting deals with major networks such as Sky Sports or the BBC, increasing exposure and making ice hockey more accessible to mainstream audiences.

Strengthening Team GB on the International Stage

The Great Britain men’s national team has made significant progress in recent years, competing in the IIHF World Championship top division in 2019 and 2021. However, without investment in infrastructure and development pathways, maintaining this level of competition will be difficult.

A better-funded system could provide:

  • Elite-level coaching and training facilities to develop homegrown talent.

  • A stronger domestic league, reducing the reliance on imported players.

  • A long-term vision for Olympic qualification and sustained success on the international stage.

The Future of UK Ice Hockey

While football will always command the majority of sports investment in the UK, the potential benefits of a £2bn ice hockey infrastructure project are undeniable. With new arenas, expanded leagues, increased participation, and stronger economic impact, British ice hockey could transform into a mainstream sport rather than a niche passion.

If Manchester United can justify a £2bn stadium, why shouldn’t ice hockey in the UK receive a similar level of investment? The passion, potential, and demand are already there—now, it’s just a matter of opportunity.

Where should the first new arena be built? Let us know your thoughts!

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