Melbourne's Success in NHL Global Games

In a groundbreaking move, the NHL made history by venturing into the Southern Hemisphere with the 2023 NHL Global Series in Melbourne, Australia. The NHL had done its homework, but venturing into uncharted territory always comes with uncertainties. Yet, the response from Melbourne was overwhelming, proving that hockey fever knows no bounds. Melbourne, a city known for its passion for sports, embraced the NHL with open arms.

Over the course of a weekend, Rod Laver Arena witnessed back-to-back sold-out preseason games. A crowd of 13,118 witnessed the Los Angeles Kings edge out the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 on Sunday, following a thrilling game where 13,097 fans watched the Coyotes secure a 5-3 victory the previous Saturday.

Kings goalie Cam Talbot summed up the atmosphere perfectly: "The atmosphere here was unbelievable. I mean, to have two sold-out games, back-to-back afternoons, it was pretty incredible. They were into it the whole time."

Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny was equally taken aback: "There’s way more hockey fans than I knew. I just didn’t know. I think to see the number of NHL jerseys everywhere and the number of fans, the way the people were cheering and everything, I think that was … Pretty cool is not strong enough. I think it was amazing for me to see. I was not expecting that."

With this venture Australia became the fourth continent to host NHL action, requiring logistical marvels like shipping equipment through the Panama Canal and creating ice atop the court used for the Australian Open tennis tournament.

David Proper, NHL Senior Executive Vice President for Media and International Strategy, emphasised the uniqueness of this endeavour: "This is a whole different thing. I mean, this is just an entirely different model. When we play in most Global Series games, we’re showing up, they’ve got the ice plant, the whole facility, so when we actually do what we’re trying to do, we’re really just building off of what’s already there. Here, it’s all brand new."

Both teams faced their challenges as well, embarking on a 15 1/2-hour, 8,000-mile charter flight from Los Angeles. They adapted to unfamiliar practice facilities in Melbourne, making the most of their time in this beautiful city, bonding and immersing themselves in the local culture.

The warm reception from the people of Melbourne left a lasting impression on everyone involved. Enthusiasm and gratitude permeated every encounter, from fans to organisers to players and coaches.

While the NHL's return to Australia is a possibility, the league will seek input from various stakeholders, including the NHL Players’ Association and Ice Hockey Australia, to gauge the overall impact and interest generated by this extraordinary venture.

In the end, the distance and challenges were what made this experience truly remarkable. As David Proper aptly put it, "When we look back on this three months from now, I think it’s going to be one of those things you just … you can’t believe we actually accomplished and you’re really thrilled with." Melbourne, Australia, had indeed witnessed a hockey spectacle for the ages, leaving a lasting mark on the city and the NHL itself.