O'Brien Group Arena

The O'Brien Group Arena is an Australian ice sports and entertainment centre, located in the Docklands precinct of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia.

Facilities


The O'Brien Group Arena contains two Olympic-sized ice rinks, specialist winter sports gym and is the new home of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia. Rink 1, which features stadium seating and fully glassed boards suitable for ice hockey, is known as the Henke Rink, named in honour of Australian ice sports champion Geoffrey Henke AO. Rink 2, used mostly for public skating, is named the Bradbury Rink, after the Bradbury family – the most well-known member, Steven Bradbury, was a short-track speedskater who won the 1,000 m Gold Medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and his father John along with brother Warren were both also heavily involved in ice sports.

The rink is home to both Victorian-based ice hockey teams competing in the Australian Ice Hockey League, the Melbourne Ice and Melbourne Mustangs. The Arena has a capacity of 6,500 people, and its facilities include a Pro-shop, The St Moritz Bar and the Igloo Café.

Events
Since opening in early 2010, the Arena has played host to many events. As well as hosting all home games of Melbourne Ice and Melbourne Mustangs in the AIHL (Australian Ice Hockey League), it also held the 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 AIHL Goodall Cup. Both Melbourne AIHL Teams have won the Goodall Cup at the O'Brien Group Arena.

In April 2011 the Arena hosted the 2011 IIHF World Championship Division II. Team Australia won the championship playing against Belgium, Mexico, New Zealand, and Serbia.

Other events that have been held here include the 2010 Australian Figure Skating Championships, National Speed Skating Championships, Victorian Figure Skating Championships and an annual Christmas Show.

In February 2012 the Henke rink was transformed from a hockey rink to a world class short track rink which hosted the 2012 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships. This saw skaters aged 19 years and under, traveling from over 30 countries to compete in the 500 meters, 1000 meters, 1500 meters, 1500 meters super final and a team effort in the 3000 meters relay. Three junior world records were broken during this event.