Hockey’s capital gain
TASSIE’S Kookaburra captain Eddie Ockenden will see unprecedented hometown action with Hobart securing a showpiece weekend of international hockey for 2019 and 2020.
In a massive coup for the sport, Hobart is one of just three Australian venues set to be announced today as hosts of the inaugural Federation of International Hockey Pro League event next year.
The Tasmanian Hockey Centre will host fixtures on February 9 and 10, with the Hockeyroos facing China and Germany, and the Kookaburras to meet Pakistan and Germany.
Under the deal, Hobart will also host another four Australian home matches in the 2020 Pro League edition.
HOBART has secured a showpiece weekend of international hockey for both 2019 and 2020, featuring the world No.1 ranked Kookaburras and Hockeyroos across eight matches.
The state capital is one of just three Australian venues set to be announced today as hosts of the inaugural Federation of International Hockey Pro League event next year.
In a massive coup for the sport, the Tasmanian Hockey Centre will host fixtures on February 9 and 10, with the Hockeyroos facing China and Germany, and the Kookaburras to meet Pakistan and Germany.
Under the deal, Hobart will also host another four Australian home matches in the 2020 Pro League edition.
In a potential economic bonanza for the state, all matches will be broadcast live, with the world’s third most popular sport reaching an estimated two billion fans worldwide.
The matches will also mark the first international hockey in Tasmania since May 2015, with the Hockeyroos last competing here in the 2011 Oceania Cup.
Premier Will Hodgman welcomed the announcement and said the Government would provide $200,000 to host the games.
“The competition will generate significant international exposure for Hobart, with games broadcast live around the globe,” he said.
The Mercury understands that Melbourne and Sydney are the other host venues set to be announced, with Hockey Tasmania understood to be particularly thrilled to have secured the marquee Australia versus Germany men’s match.
Germany’s men’s side claimed the 2010 and 2014 Olympic gold medals and features world-class stars such as Florian Fuchs, Tobias Hauke, Christopher Ruhr and Mats Grambusch.
The FIH has labelled the Pro League as a “game-changer” for the sport, with the competition set to run from January to June each year.
The world’s best nine men’s and women’s teams will compete across 152 matches, each playing 16 home and away matches, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals. The grand final will be played in June in the Netherlands.
“The planning for this ground-breaking event has been years in the making and we are extremely excited about the start of this competition on 19th January 2019,” FIH chief Thierry Weil said recently.
“We have been pleased by the positive response from our stakeholders, who have recognised the importance of creating a product that will attract even more fans, television coverage and commercial partners.”
“We believe that these innovative changes will have a huge impact on the continuing development and growth of hockey in all corners of the world, attracting an army of new fans, players, coaches and officials.”
Hockey Australia has announced a five-year deal with Fox Sports Australia, giving fans access to live coverage of the Pro League and the Australian Hockey League from 2019 to 2022.